Psychological Development and Education ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 19-27.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.01.03

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Effects of Mental Rotation Training on 5~6 Years Old Children's Spatial and Mathematical Performance

KANG Dan1, WEN Xin2   

  1. 1. Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, College of Educational Science of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081;
    2. Lotus Kindergarten of Changsha Municipal People's Government, Changsha 410005
  • Published:2020-02-05

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Abstract: Mental rotation refers to the individual's spatial thinking ability involving self or the object rotation in the mind, which is characterized with plasticity. Exploring the effect of mental rotation game on preschool children's spatial ability and mathematical ability can not only enrich and replenish the correlative theoretical researches, but also offer significant reference information for educators. A two-factor mixed experimental design of 2 (test time:pretest/post-test)×2 (group:experimental group/control group) was used to investigate the effect of mental rotation game training on the spatial and mathematical abilities of children aged 5~6 years. Based on the plasticity of mental rotation and the close relationship between spatial ability and mathematical ability, an intervention program for mental rotation was designed. Thirty-six subjects were divided into experimental group and control group, and subjected to the intervention of total 24 times for 8 weeks. The results of the study show that:(1)There is a significant positive correlation between spatial ability and mathematics ability; (2) The spacial ability and mathematics ability of children aged 5~6 years are effectively improved through mental rotation game, and the training program achieves a good immediate effect.

Key words: mental rotation training, spatial performance, mathematical performance

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