Improving Abstract Reasoning Skills Using the Integration of Proof within a Historical Context

Abstract

This Curriculum Project presents a collection of lessons designed to incorporate the history of mathematics and proof in the New York State Next Generation Algebra 1 Standards with the goal of providing teachers with an alternative instructional approach to teaching Algebra 1. The lessons were constructed to assist Algebra 1 teachers in engineering lessons that develop mathematical concepts within their historical context, that is, how concepts were discovered, proven, and used throughout the course of history. Proof is an essential part of mathematics, especially as students reach higher level mathematics. Since proof and abstract reasoning are interconnected, and abstract reasoning is a standard required by the Next Generation Standards for high school mathematics, this Curriculum Project was designed to support the teaching of proofs to make abstract reasoning more attainable.