Ethnomathematics of Negev Bedouins’ Existence in Forms, Symbols and Geometric Patterns / by Ada Katsap, Fredrick L. Silverman.

• VerfasserIn: Katsap, Ada.; Silverman, Fredrick L.
• Place / Publishing House: Rotterdam : : SensePublishers :, Imprint: SensePublishers,, 2016.
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Edition: 1st ed. 2016.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (316 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Ethnomathematics of Negev Bedouins’ Existence in Forms, Symbols, and Geometric Patterns provokes a journey into the world of Negev Bedouins and attests to the beauty and sophistication of mathematics that occurs naturally in their craftwork, structures, games, and throughout Bedouin life. The major focus is Bedouin women’s traditional craftwork by which they reflect social and cultural activities in their weaving, embroidery, and similar pursuits. Their creations reveal mathematical ideas incorporated in embroidery compositions in repeated patterns of flowers and geometric figures in varying scales. The women use ground staked looms, stabilized by block-stones, to make multi-color, repeating pattern strip-rugs in a process practiced for generations. An image of this appears in the book’s cover photo collage. Bedouin men construct dwellings, tents, desert wells, and such. They and their children play games attuned to sand and other specific desert conditions. These activities of Bedouin women, men, and children require mathematical thinking and strategic reasoning to achieve desired outcomes. The book opens with a narrative of Bedouin history, followed by a brief overview of ethnomathematics, and concludes with discussion about bridging the gap between school mathematics experiences and those outside school. It considers mathematically problematic situations embedded in Bedouin sociocultural heritage likely to appeal to teachers for use with school students. The book is intended for a diverse audience from Bedouin communities in different countries to the general public and professionals, including ethnomathematicians and mathematics educators. Numerous photographs document the examples of Bedouin ethnomathematics. They are the subject of considerable analysis and appear throughout the book. .

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction -- Negev and Its Inhabitants -- History of the Negev: Since the Beginning of Time up to the Establishment of the State of Israel -- Geography and Topography of the Negev -- Bedouins -- The Origin of Bedouins -- The Bedouins in the Land of Israel -- Negev Bedouins’ Identity -- Demography -- A Look at Ethnomathematics -- Preface to Ethnomathematics -- Introduction to Ethnomathematics: Study and Research in Ethnomathematics -- Several Other Definitions of Ethnomathematics -- The Role of Ethnomathematics in Mathematics Education -- Part 2: Ethnomathematics of the Bedouin Embroidery and Weave -- Bedouin Women and Embroidery -- Bedouin Women and Embroidery -- Feminine Bedouin Enterprises -- Embroidery: Traditional Women’s Handcraft in Palestine and around the World -- Identity of the Negev Bedouin Women’s Embroideries: Dress and Dwelling Decorations -- Dress Embroidery -- Embroidered Dress Parts -- Decorative Embroidered Belongings -- Transformations, Shapes and Patterns Analysis in the Negev Bedouins’ Embroideries -- A Brief Account of the Symmetries of Frieze and Wallpaper Groups -- Frieze Group Features in the Embroideries -- Wallpaper Groups Features in the Embroideries -- Color Symmetry and Its Features in the Embroideries -- Escher’s Filling-Plane Model in Bedouin Embroidery Compositions -- The Embroiderer’s Story -- An Insight into the Embroidery Patterns -- Patterns, Colors, and Designs in Bedouins Rugs and Other Items -- Negev Weaving -- Stripe Patterns, Designs, and Color Combinations among Negev Bedouin -- Negev Bedouin Families’ Woven Items -- Part 3: The Bedouin Way of Life: Ethnomathematics Anywhere -- Measurable Division of Ground Shapes: Family-Cultural-Geographical Viewpoint -- Division of Ground Shapes of Unrecognized Villages in the Northern Negev -- Visit with the Shepherd -- Arabic Measurement Units of Length -- Well, Waterhole, and Tent: The Inseparable Constructions of Negev Bedouins Desert Existence -- Water in Negev Desert -- Waterholes -- Water Wells -- Tent -- Games as Bedouin Heritage for All Generations -- Games People Play -- The Negev Bedouins’ Games -- Epilogue -- Part 4: Bridging between Life and School: Why and How -- Interweaving the Ethnomathematical Approach into Teaching and Learning Mathematics -- The Linkages between Ethnomathematics, Mathematics and Curriculum -- Ethnomathematics in Mathematics Preservice Teachers’ Education in Practice -- Ethnomathematics in Mathematics Curriculum via Ethnomathematical Word Problems: The Case Problems Arising in Negev Bedouin Culture and Society -- Pros and Cons of Integrating Ethnomathematics in Mathematics School Curriculum -- Ethnomathematical Problems as an Issue of an Ethnomathematical Approach -- The Bedouin School Students Engaging with Ethnomathematical Problematic Situations -- Appendix -- References.