Relational Thinking In The Schooling Of Order Of Operations And Early Algebra In Elementary School

The general objective of this study was to promote relational thinking in the analysis of numerical expressions, using the order of operations, in third-grade primary school students. A psychoeducational sequence was designed based on the representation of numerical properties and expressions of equality by equivalence, based on phenomenal activities (didactical phenomenology) and the application of the hierarchy of operations. Thirty students were assessed using multiple performance indicators in the procedural and conceptual fields. 71.43% of the students reached a very high or high level of achievement in tasks of application of the order of operations. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between relational thinking and phenomenal activities with the level of achievement of the order of operations.