Mathematics Education and Ethnic-Racial Relations

Kente Fabrics as a School Activity

Abstract

This experience report presents the proposal for an ethnic-racial approach to teaching Geometry in the early years of Elementary School. During an extension project, which focuses on offering continuing training courses for teachers in the municipal education network, in order to promote ethnic-racial literacy, a lecture was held on Ethnomathematics as a base methodology for the insertion of African culture in Mathematics classes, through Kente fabrics. Kente is one of the most traditional African fabrics and geometric figures and symmetries can be explored in its patterns. At the end of the lecture, a workshop on “making” Kente fabrics was proposed, in which each teacher should design their patterns exploring the symmetries of translation, rotation and reflection. As results, we present some patterns designed by teachers. It should be noted that the proposed activity can be covered in all years of Elementary School.