Mathematical activity as one of the most important aims of mathematical education

The article considers defining mathematical activity as the relevant issue of science. Taking into consideration the fact that mathematics, just like the mother tongue, is taught from the time of birth, the author provides the tabulate showing the child's fundamental achievements at the early phases of the development of his arithmetical skills, which provides the consecutive stages of the child's education in a chronological way and shows the way how he gains his skills. Mathematical activity, being the activity of the mind typical of the mathematician, is one of the most important aims of mathematical education. It should be underlined that learning mathematics is the organized activity which covers: taking over and assimilating information obtained from various sources, using the information directly, creating subjectively new for the learner elements of knowledge, subjectively new concepts, statements and methods while solving problems formulated by others or the learner himself. The author's attention is focused on the issue of projects, which are usually worked out by a small group of children from a class, sometimes it is the whole class and sometimes an individual child. The fundamental feature of a project is its research character and in addition research actions should be intentionally focused on finding the answer to the question given regarding the topic. On the basis of scientific literature and some scientific experience it can be stated that the task can be defined as an educational project only if it has a research character, it includes various areas of education, research activeness is focused on asking questions by children themselves and trying to find the answer on their own, it initiates unaided making decisions concerning types of executed tasks and types of organized episodes, it engages children practically, intellectually and emotionally, it creates the possibility for developing the interests of ‘the researchers', actions taken provide intellectual vigour, children have their influence on choosing the topic and they accept the project aims, children work together or in groups, children are familiar with deadlines of the task execution, it involves with its rage outdoor activities even in initial stages, it integrates educational institution with a child's home and local environment, the participants are familiar with the rules of assessment, all of the research group members know the ways of presenting their work. The project structure can be divided into five stages: initiating of the project (choosing the topic), working out the plan of the project, carrying out the project (taking up the research activeness), finishing the project and assessing it. This may be regarded as a great mathematical activity when correctly introduced into educational process.