1. The Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approach
in Primary Mathematics
5 Dec 2013 | MAV Annual Conference
Dr Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute
Slides are available at
www.banhar.blogspot.com
The Merlion by Yeap Ken Min

2. “Upon separation from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore
was faced with … high levels of unemployment and
poverty. 70% of Singapore’s households lived in badly
overcrowded conditions, and a third of its people
squatted in slums on the city fringes. Unemployment
averaged 14%, GDP per capita was less than $2,700,
and half of the population was illiterate. “

3. Country
GDP per capita in
current USD
2012
Singapore
60,400
Malaysia
16,900
Thailand
10,100
Philippines
4,400

4. | Hanusek, Jamison, Jamison & Woessmann 2008

5. Score
1960-1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
500’s
Japan
Hong Kong
Japan
Korea
Hong Kong
Japan
Korea
Singapore
Hong Kong
Japan
Korea
Singapore
400’s
Thailand
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Malaysia
Thailand
Malaysia
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Indonesia
Philippines
300’s
| Hanusek, Jamison, Jamison & Woessmann 2008

6. Example 1
First Lesson on Fractions
Primary 2

9. Example 2
Division involving Fractions
Primary 5

10. Lesson 2
Share 3 fourths.
5th December 2013

11. Example 3
Addition within 40
Primary 1

12. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

13. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

14. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

15. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

16. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

17. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

18. Lesson 1
5th December 2013

20. Example 4
Area of Circle
Primary 6

24. Nanyang Primary School, Singapore
CPA Approach
Based on Bruner’s work on
representations – enactive, iconic and
symbolic

25. thinkingschools
learningnation
Mathematics is “an excellent vehicle for
the development and improvement of a
person’s intellectual competence”.
Ministry of Education, Singapore (2006)

26. Ministry of Education, Singapore (1991, 2000, 2006, 2012)