Gesture Counting Lesson for Mathematics for Elementary Teachers or Liberal Studies Course Author: Dr. Charles P. Funkhouser NSF Funded Project Award # DUE

Goals of the lesson 1. Describe the fundamentals and uses of gesture counting. 2. Appreciate the need for alternative methods of number representation and communication in Native American cultures. 3. Present Plains Indian counting gestures for 1 to 10 (and suggest gestures for higher numbers). 4. Suggest the relationship between real-world situations and number gestures, and basis. 5. Investigate other cultures’ gesture counting and their development of such systems.

Session-related Stories ”The story is as important as the content.” Stories are oral or written ways of relating a particular idea or concept to the real world or everyday life, to a broader context than just the abstract content.

Participant Materials & Equipment Gesture Counting Narrative Gesture Counting Worksheet (Digital) Camera or videocam\VCR “Power Point” on PC or Mac CD burner and appropriate software

Session Overview Teacher exposition on various historical numeration systems Investigation of related Plains Indian culture History and procedures for Plains Indian gesture counting presented Students practice gesture counting then discuss related mathematical content Problems assigned both from textbook and from a worksheet

… and finally. 1. Investigate other systems of gesture counting (e.g., African, Asian, ASL) 2. Do library or interview research on Native American culture as related to gesture counting or signing in general. 3. Prepare a set of camera or “Power Point” images of Native American gesture counting and its application in a real-world (tribal) setting and record on some medium.

Wrap-Up Further discussion and ideas on Gesture Counting and American Indian culture

Gesture Counting Pictorial Graphic of Gesture Counting from 1 to 10, 10s, and 100 Native American Speaker gesturing 1 to 10 and 80

Gestures for 1 to 10, 10’s and 100.

Counting 1 to 5

… 6 to 10, and 30.