• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-180
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to delve into how elementary mathematics textbooks deal with the areas of triangles and quadrilaterals from a viewpoint of the Didactic Transposition Theory. The following conclusion was derived about the teaching of the area concept: The area concept started to be taught perfectly in the 7th curricular textbook, and the focus of area teaching was placed on the area concept, since learners were gradually given opportunities to compare and measure areas. As to the area formulae of triangles and quadrilaterals, the following conclusions were made: First, the 1st curricular, the 2nd curricular and the 3rd curricular textbooks placed emphasis on transposition by textbooks, and the 4th curricular, the 5th curricular and the 6th curricular textbooks accentuated transposition by teachers. The 7th curricular textbooks put stress on knowledge construction by learners; Second, the focus of teaching shifted from a measurement of area to inducing learners to make area formula. Namely, the utilization of area formula itself was accentuated, while algorithm was emphasized in the past; Third, the way to encourage learners to produce area formula changed according to the curricula and in light of learners' level, but a wide range of teaching devices related to the area formulae were removed, which resulted in offering less learning chances to students; Fourth, what to teach about the areas of triangles and quadrilaterals was gradually polished up, and the 7th curricular textbooks removed one of the overlapped area formula of triangle.