Playing with Mathematics: appropriations and the dissemination of the Froebel method in Brazil in the first decades of the Republic

Abstract:

This article aims to analyze the appropriations of the Froebel method with respect to the teaching of mathematics and its dissemination in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná. As a research source, we examine the Froebel method, present in the Manual by Menezes Vieira and in the Revista do Jardim de Infância, both published in the 19th century, and its dissemination and appropriation, with respect to mathematical knowledge. Brazil's proximity to studies on the Froebelian method in Europe and the United States was identified through appropriations developed in kindergartens. The analyses indicate that Froebel's gifts can be considered manipulable objects with an educational intent, especially for the teaching of mathematics. It is concluded that the history of mathematics education in Brazil needs to revisit Early Childhood Education, thus allowing for new discussions and practices related to the teaching and learning process of young children.

Keywords:
Mathematics teaching; Kindergarten; Froebel method; Pedagogical models