This work results from a thesis report that deals with the relations between Cognitive Psychology and Didactics of Mathematics. More specifically, it is proposed to advance in the task of specifying in what sense Vygotsky's Psychology can turn out relevant to approach the questions related to the teaching and learning of elementary algebra.
The content of this article is structured into three points. Firstly, a characterization of the algebraic activity is set out, where information from Didactics of Mathematics about some questions on the learning of elementary algebra is retaken and related. Then, some ideas from Vygotsky's theory are taken to establish relations with the didactic explanations worked, inferring possible new elements that broaden the learning description of the first algebraic tools. Finally, it is intended to structure a single explanation that allow to think the learning of elementary algebra at school from the articulation of the psychological and didactic explanations worked.