Abstract

TORRES MERCHAN, Nidia Yaneth  and  MONTENEGRO CASAS, Camilo Andrés. HOW DO CHILDREN INTERPRET EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICES RELATED TO THE CONCEPT OF DENSITY?. Prax. Saber [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.21, pp.21-45. ISSN 2216-0159.

This article is part of a research project on the use of recreational science in childhood education, aimed at increasing motivation in their understanding of basic concepts of natural sciences. This work describes the development of experimental activities regarding the concept of density among a group of 35 second- and third-grade students from an educational institution in Duitama, Colombia. To this end, sequences of experiments on such concept were used. The results indicate that children relate the concept of density to terms like sticky, elastic, and viscous. These characteristics reflect the children's macroscopic observations of their experiences. However, as the experiments further develop, other words like heavy, light, floating, and sinking, are associated. This aspect makes it possible to verify how children add new information to their own conceptions and associate experimental practice with things they know. The foregoing suggests that children apply previous knowledge to observed aspects, and therefore they learn new causal relationships. Likewise, the study shows that when laboratory practical experiences are facilitated in childhood education, there is an increase in positive attitudes towards the learning of science.

Keywords : experimental activities; density; motivation; science skills.

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