Effecting changes in the elementary science curriculum of a school system

1964 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne B. Hopman
Keyword(s):  
School System ◽  
Elementary Science ◽  
Science Curriculum

scholarly journals Fostering Fifth-Grade Students’ Ability to Design Comparative Experiments Using an Online Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Guoqing Zhao ◽  
Rongchi Zhao ◽  
Xuanyang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Science ◽  
Science Curriculum ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Experiment Design ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Comparative Experiment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Fifth Grade Students ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Insulation Effect

Chinese Elementary Science Curriculum Standards requires that fifth- and sixth- grade students can plan and design comparative experiments. However, students at these grades have difficulties in distinguishing and controlling variables in a specific context. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a simulation-embedded scientific inquiry unit on fifth-grade students’ ability to design comparative experiments. Thermodynamics Challenge, implemented in the Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) and translated into Chinese, engaged fifth-grade students in conducting virtual investigations with NetLogo models to test how thermal insulation effect is enhanced by different material use. A total of 86 fifth-grade students (47 boys and 39 girls) from an elementary school in Weifang City, Shandong Province participated in the research. Pre- and post-tests were used to examine changes in students’ understanding of comparative experiment design. Results showed that all students have a significant improvement in knowledge of comparative experiments from pre- to post-test, and students with low prior knowledge improved more than the other two groups. These findings indicated the feasibility of fostering fifth-graders’ comparative experiment design with simulations. Implications for science teaching are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document