Cryptography: a didactic possibility for teaching matrices

This paper presents the development of a teaching sequence that combines the topic of cryptography with the content of matrices, using spreadsheets. Based on the ideas of curriculum integration, topics of interest, Contemporary Transversal Themes, and the use of technologies, we seek to present a possible path for teaching practice. The objective was to explore the potential of this approach to promote contextualized teaching. The qualitative research was developed with 23 students from a public school in Rio Grande do Sul, using questionnaires and written records to produce data. The results indicate that the teaching sequence contributed to the understanding and review of matrix content, enabling contextualization and the use of technological resources.