Estratégias de pensamento algébrico factual no Jogo da Onça

Abstract

The objective of this article is to reflect on the existence of algebraic thinking in the traditional Jaguar Game, of the Brazilian indigenous Paiter-Suruí people, based on the analysis of the connections between the factual stratum of algebraic thinking and this indigenous board game. Our reflection begins with the following question: What are the relationships between Algebraic Thinking and the calculation strategies manifested during the Jaguar Game matches? This is basic research, with a qualitative and exploratory approach, in which we investigated the unusual logic established during indigenous game matches and the possible connections with the search for solutions to emerging mathematical problems. The research results show that the current dynamics in the playful activity corroborate with evidence of primary algebraic thinking strategies, necessary for the development, a posteriori, of some algebra. We conclude, therefore, that the small volume of studies on history for the teaching of Mathematics involving knowledge of the original Brazilian peoples, justifies the parsimony present in the findings, while highlighting a rich field of investigation.