To improve spatial ability of the students, we studied on the development of solid figures for
enrichment teaching/learning material in the elementary math gifted class. This material consist of
3 steps with 4 topics which is divided into 6 lessons. Each lesson utilizes Van Hiele's 5 step
teaching method.
We tried out this program 3 times at elementary math gifted class, and there were interesting
results. Even if the students never directly converted figures back and forth between 2D and 3D
space, using their sense of space, the students were able to know the positional location in space.
However, the students were only able to know the locations in space if they already knew how to
symbolize the faces, sides, and vertices of the figures. However, even if the students are completely
gifted, if the shapes are complex, then it is more difficult to go from 3D to 2D than it is to
transform the figures from 2D to 3D. The gifted students who had an immense amount of
creativity and curiosity tried to find and draw a unique figure.
After this program, students tried to make the deveopment of their own solid figures. Once they
were finished, they discussed and reflected the difficulties they had. From this discussion, it seemed
like the students gained the ability to help other students with their planar figures.