Space and math : the interrelations among spatial skills, numerical representation and calculation abilities and the effect of LEGO structured play on these abilities

Abstract

The current study investigated the interrelations among spatial skills, numerical representation and calculation abilities as well as the effect of LEGO structured play on these abilities. Eightyeight Primary One Hong Kong students (Mean age = 84.93 months) were participated in either the LEGO structured play and phonics training. A few significant results were found from their performances. The results showed correlations among spatial skills, numerical representation and calculation abilities, and spatial skills predicted exact calculation ability through number line estimation ability. Besides, the findings highlighted the significance of linearity of numerical magnitude in mathematical learning. Moreover, a significant intervention effect on number comparison ability was found in the LEGO structured play group, but not in the phonics group. Spatial skills were recognized as an important foundation for children’s mathematical learning (Uttal, Meadow, Tipton, Hand, Alden, Warren, & Newcombe, 2013). The above relations were explained by the mechanism that spatial skills improved mathematics via facilitating a linear numerical magnitude representation (Booth & Siegler, 2008; Gunderson, Ramirez, Beilock, & Levine, 2012). LEGO structured play was found to be correlated with children’s spatial skills and mathematical development (Wolfgang, Stannard, & Jones, 2003). However, more consolidated evidence was needed to support the effectiveness of LEGO structured play and its linkage with the aforementioned abilities. The current study investigated the interrelations among spatial skills, numerical representation, and calculation abilities, and explore the effectiveness of LEGO structured play intervention on the above abilities. First, the definitions of the above abilities were listed below to provide a basic understanding of the variables. After that, their interrelations and possible underlying mechanisms were discussed.