Figurate Numbers

Traditionally mathematics has been taught from numbers first and then into Geometry. 

The Greeks would suggest that Mathematics started with Geometry and out of Geometry Numbers were created to help record and analyse. 

Check out Donald in Mathemagicland(YouTube) Donald in Mathemagicland

Galileo suggested, ""Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe".

Wouldn't it be exciting if all maths' teaching was started from geometry, the real world, rather than from abstract Arithmetic! I am sure the majority of students would become more involved and interested.

 

From NCTM Student Explorations in Mathematics January 2012