A study of children's preferences for projective and other geometric transformations

This study was part of a larger study into primary children's geometrical abilities. A class of eight‐year‐old children were asked to express geometrical preferences. A series of figures, each with alternative transformations was presented to each child. In each case the child was asked to select which of the alternative transformations was most like the original figure. The transformations were projective (in two different ways) and Euclidean ( ‘piecewise’ congruent, rotational, reflective or similar) or affine. The results suggest that children have a strong preference for projective transformations rather than Euclidean. It is further suggested by the author that primary geometry ought to be more projectively based and a brief outline of such a curriculum package, formulated and evaluated in school, is given.