This paper considers the design of research to be carried out with Year 7 middle school
students and discusses the use of Concept Cartoons to encourage mathematical reasoning
and effective engagement in the classroom with respect to decimal fractions. The research
will explore and compare Concept Cartoons with Concept Mapping as techniques used to
access and build on a students’ prior knowledge during the introduction of two
mathematical topics in Year 7 (fractions and decimals). Two year 7 classes will be involved
in the study. In the first topic one class will trial the use of Concept Maps to elicit prior
understandings while the other class will use Concept Cartoons. When the second topic
commences the two techniques will be reversed. At the completion of the study each class
will have accessed and built on their prior knowledge using concept maps and concept
cartoons. As this research is yet to be conducted we focus here on the development of
Concept Cartoons for decimals.