Abordagens diversificadas para o ensino dos poliedros de Platão

Abstract

In this research we aimed to offer students the knowledge of the existence of only five types of regular Plato’s polyhedra, through formal demonstration and practical work of construction of these polyhedra. We presented a part of the history which involves these solid objects, comprehended how the polyhedra are addressed in Brazilian legislation in what regards to Math teaching, defined the concept of polyhedron, presented the Euler’s Relation, pointed the difference between platonic polyhedra and regular polyhedra, as approached by the textbook used in class, and defined the duality of the polyhedra. The practical work consisted of a didactic intervention in classroom, in which the textbook explanations were used with the students and complemented with demonstration and the help of concrete material, as wooden sticks and play dough, as well as folds. This paper has also been developed by using Uma Pletora de Poliedros software that allowed students to know various types of polyhedra and to get acquainted with its elements, by rotating, translating, enlarging, reducing and visualizing faces, edges and vertices of the polyhedra. This research has led us to the comprehension of the importance of the articulation between theoretical and practical work, as it facilitates in a significant way the teaching-learning process of the students.