Teaching and learning of Sciences at preschool: the construction of scientific precursor models
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1344/reire2010.3.1313Keywords:
scientific precursor models, scientific procedural and communicative skills, teaching and learning, preschool educationAbstract
In this paper we discuss preschool children flotation scientific precursor model (SPM) construction based on the objects’ material nature by using scientific procedural and communicative skills in a dialogical context. This exploratory study used a qualitative data collection and analysis, and was conducted in three phases: pre-interview, instructional process and post-interview. Results show that after the instructional period several children were lead to the construction of the precursor model, and the whole children were lead to a qualitative upgrade of reasoning considering flotation more accurately in terms of the event itself, and changing their way of justifying flotation towards a scientific way of looking at the phenomena. Therefore we assume that educational activities were effective and that in the context of preschool education this approach could improve scientific teaching and learning to a better understanding of science topics in order to develop the basis of scientific literacy since early instructional stages.References
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