Estrategias lúdico recreativas para el fortalecimiento del pensamiento numérico a través de las operaciones básicas matemáticas en el grado 2º del Colegio San Bartolomé.

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to promote recreational play-based strategies to strengthen numerical thinking through basic mathematical operations in 2nd-grade students at Colegio San Bartolomé, Comuneros #33 campus, in San José de Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia. Theoretically, it is based on contributions from Pagani and Morini, et al. (2020), UNICEF (2018), and Márquez & Guarín (2019) regarding recreational play strategies; Granados (2019) on the characteristics of numerical thinking; and Cabrera (2020) in relation to basic mathematical operations. The study is framed within the socio-critical paradigm and follows a qualitative approach through a pedagogical action-research method with a descriptive design. The study population included 30 students and one teacher from the aforementioned institution. Data collection techniques and instruments included observation through field journal entries and semi-structured interviews with key informants. The results, triangulated and analyzed, allowed for the design of a proposal that was implemented and evaluated through a post-diagnosis and a rubric, demonstrating its effectiveness. Findings indicate that students showed a significant change in their attitude toward mathematics, moving from viewing this subject as difficult or boring to seeing it as accessible and enjoyable. The inclusion of games and recreational activities helped reduce fear or resistance toward basic mathematical operations and strengthened their numerical thinking, thus achieving the objective of this research.