Constructing multiplication: different strategies used by pupils

Abstract

The Project “Number sense development: curricular demands and perspectives” aims to study the development of number sense in elementary school (5 to 12 years old). This paper presents a discussion based on one of the six case studies developed by the project. We will focuses on the strategies used by 7-years old pupils when solving multiplication problems, namely on the awareness of existence of different strategies and the inclination to utilize an efficient representation or method.