THE EXPANSION THERMOMETER IN PRESCHOOLERS’ THINKING

TitleTHE EXPANSION THERMOMETER IN PRESCHOOLERS’ THINKING
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsKampeza, M, Vellopoulou, A, Fragkiadaki, G, Ravanis, K
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume15
Issue2
Start Page185–193
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedApril/2016
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersICID: 1202145
Keywordsexpansion thermometer, preschool education, preschoolers’ representations, science and technology education
Abstract

Children form representations of concepts, physical phenomena and technical objects which are critical to teaching and learning. In addition, they are familiar with the everyday usefulness of many particular objects, although it is not certain that they associate them with the scientific aspects of their function. In this research, preschoolers’ representations of the expansion thermometer were explored, as well as their ability to distinguish it as a specialized technical tool. The sample consisted of 111 children (53 boys and 58 girls) aged 5-6 years from 9 public kindergartens in Patras, Greece and data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The results demonstrated that although some children replied in a satisfactory way to all interview questions, the majority of the children were not able to distinguish the thermometer as a particular object and struggled with its function, so the suggestion for it to be used in curricula and/or educational activity books should be made cautiously.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1481916899.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/16.15.185
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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