Experiential Education: Teaching Elementary Mathematics With a Deweyan Framework

Abstract

In the current educational climate in America, standardization is the driving force. Across the United States school districts are facing severe budget cuts which, when paired with legislature such as the No Child Left Behind Act, are creating a learning environment void of creativity and spontaneity. John Dewey, the father of progressive education, believed that learning should not be marked by rote memorization, but rather should aspire to actively engage students in experience and learning that erased boundaries between subject areas and integrated daily life practices. This thesis addresses the question of whether or not it is possible for a typical classroom teacher in the public elementary school setting to implement an experiential education framework into academic curriculum through the administration of a mathematics unit. Using the backdrop of art, music, and cooking, students will develop the necessary skills and knowledge to authentically use fractions.