Misconceptions in 5-6 Year Old Children: Formation of a Cloud

Abstract

Many phenomena and events in which children are included are suitable to be researched and discovered by children within the scope of science education. Children ask many questions while researching the scientific facts and phenomena they are curious about and learn new concepts. In this process, it is essential to teach the concepts children will learn and the new education to be formed. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the concept of cloud, which mainly attracts children's attention, and the current conceptual knowledge and misconceptions about cloud formation. For this purpose, the phenomenology pattern was used in the research. The study group consisted of 60-72 month-old children studying in an independent kindergarten affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Antalya. A total of 12 children and one teacher were included in the study. The research used the 'Personal Information Form', ‘Children's Scientific Concepts Evaluation Form' and 'Teacher Interview Form for Science Education' as data collection tools for children and their teachers. The data were analyzed by the descriptive analysis method. Findings obtained from children were presented in the form of themes by coding. As a result of the research, it was determined that children had concept deficiencies and misconceptions about the formation of the cloud and that there were errors in the formation of meaning. In addition, teachers' suggestions were made to evaluate and change children's misconceptions.