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ERIC Number: EJ1390670
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jun
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1449-6313
EISSN: EISSN-1839-2946
Difficult Physical Science Concepts in Middle Primary
Osborne, Kristy
Teaching Science, v69 n2 p21-28 Jun 2023
The aim of this research is to take a fresh look at the physical science concepts that Year 3 students struggle with. In this work, the responses of over 8,000 middle-primary-aged students to a range of physics, space science and chemistry questions were evaluated. The questions covered a number of topics ranging from selecting and using simple measurement tools to changes of state. From the student responses, we were able to address the following questions: 'Which physical science concepts did the students find difficult?' and 'Are the identified concepts the same concepts that students struggled with in the past or have new difficulties emerged?'. From the responses, it was determined that difficult concepts for Year 3 included: bigger objects don't always weigh more than smaller objects; gases have mass and volume; and day and night is caused by the Earth spinning on its axis. We summarise these findings along with recommendations for the Year 3 classroom.
Australian Science Teachers Association. P.O. Box 334, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia. Tel: +61-02-6282-9377; Fax: +61-02-6282-9477; e-mail: publications@asta.edu.au; Web site: https://www.asta.edu.au/resources/teaching-science-journal/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A