РЕКОНСТРУКЦИЈА АНТИЧКЕ ПИЈАЦЕ КАО МОДЕЛ АКТИВНОГ УЧЕЊА МАТЕМАТИКЕ У МЛАЂИМ РАЗРЕДИМА

Abstract

Modern mathematics education increasingly seeks ways to bring abstract concepts closer to students through meaningful, real-life contexts. In this framework, this theoretical paper presents the model of reconstructing the ancient marketplace as a context for active learning of arithmetic in lower elementary grades. Drawing on Vygotsky, Bruner, and Realistic Mathematics Education, it proposes a set of clearly structured scenarios in which students assume the roles of seller, buyer, market inspector (agoranomos), and chronicler. Through simulated situations (measurement, buying and selling, making change, discounts, and converting measurement units), students develop basic computational skills, understanding of measurement and units, percentages and proportions, as well as social and communication skills. Using an integrative teaching model, mathematics is connected with history, language, visual arts, informatics/ICT, and civic education. Potential challenges (material and spatial conditions, lesson organization, task differentiation) are discussed, together with proposed mitigation measures such as role rotation and involving parents/the school community. The model offers a practical and flexible framework that brings mathematics closer to real life and fosters lasting conceptual understanding, with a recommendation for further empirical studies of its effects on students’ competencies.