• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.323-348
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• 2016

The 2009 revised national mathematics curriculum have inserted mathematical 'linking cube' activities in the 6th grade math classes to improve students' spatial problem solving abilities and communication skills. However, we found that it was hard for teachers to teach problem solving and communication skills due to the absence of mathematical way of representing linking cubes in the classroom. In this paper, we propose 3D 'turtle representation system' as teaching and learning tools for linking cube activities. After using turtle representation system for linking cube activities, teachers responded that turtle representation system is a valuable problem solving and communication tools for the linking cube mathematics classes. We conclude that turtle representation system is a well designed teaching and learning tools for linking cube activities, and there are lots of educational meanings in the 3D turtle representation system.