Gesturing helps grade-schoolers learn algebra

ScienceDaily - Hand Gestures Dramatically Improve Learning

A traditionally difficult algebra problem was given to 3 sets of 3rd graders, one allowed to gesture and speak, another allowed only to gesture, and another allowed only to speak. Most of them e the particular math problem wrong, and are then told the concepts they need to get it right. They were then tested 3 weeks later on the concepts involved. Of the kids in the groups that gestured, 90% of them retained the principles, compared to only 33% in the speak-only group. The theory is that gesturing makes abstract math principles more applicable through world-interaction, e.g. gesture.