Scientific knowledge is a primary resource that scientists use to shape their activities to make sense of natural phenomena. Support for students' adaptation of scientific knowledge can enhance their ability to make sense of the natural world. This study aims to examine how ecological concepts are used when students plan field-based modeling of…

This study employed a mixed-methods design to investigate the impact of activities developed by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) on the scientific creativity and scientist perceptions of gifted 5th-grade students. The research used a one-group pretest-posttest design with a sample of 22 students from a Science and Art Education Centre in…

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of STEM activities on students' attitudes towards STEM and problem-solving skills by taking their components into account. An experimental design with pretest-posttest control group was applied in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data collection tools were used. The participants of the study…

Junior high school is pivotal for developing skills and fostering a lasting interest in science subjects. Understanding the components that either lead to or hinder academic engagement is essential. This research investigates an indicator of the learning environment that significantly influences academic engagement in science of junior high school…

Tangible teaching aids can provide a valuable supplement to traditional textbook-based learning of fundamental STEM concepts. 3D-printed templates detailing the construction of simple parallel and series circuits were incorporated into the lesson plans for 6th-grade introductory physics. Aiming to introduce the concepts of junction and loop rules…

Integral to fostering computational thinking (CT) skills, which are increasingly essential in today's digital era, has been the shift of paper-based pictorial modeling activities to computational modeling. Research has indicated that modeling activities can advance students' understanding of a system's mechanism (i.e., systems thinking), such as…

Investigating stars can be difficult. The five-day unit presented in this article is designed for fifth graders to work toward Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) performance expectation 5-ESS1-1, with each lesson lasting about 30 minutes. Students investigate the relationship between the brightness of light and distance, apply their…

A collection of four activities for science outreach events was developed to teach middle school students about the temperature dependence of scientific phenomena. Procedures are described for four interactive demonstrations on phase changes, fluorescence, viscosity effects on diffusion, and conductivity. Each hands-on activity helps students…

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of activities developed on the subject of Moon Movements and Phases on the spatial skills and academic achievement of 5th-grade students. For this purpose, a mixed research method was used. In the quantitative dimension of the research, a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group…

This article demonstrates how the authors used a 5E lesson about food webs as a context to embed speaking and listening standards. This 5E lesson partially addresses 5-LS2-1 in the "Next Generation Science Standards" and focuses primarily on predator/prey relationships. Future lessons focus on decomposition and other relationships. To…

This paper introduces a scientific activity named "Pythagorean Cup of Justice" for teacher candidates to discuss values by integrating moral and ethical dimensions into science education, offering crucial insights into the cup's historical significance, enhancing fluid dynamics understanding, and engaging STEM-based activity. The study…

Hands-on activities in science learning are beneficial in enhancing creative thinking in students. However, scant studies have probed the nature of creative thinking developed by hands-on activities, particularly among primary school students and further investigation is thus mandated. Therefore, this study aims to explore the creative thinking…

Understanding experimental design (e.g. control of variable strategy or CVS) is foundational for scientific reasoning. Previous research has demonstrated that demonstrations with cognitive conflict (e.g. asking students to evaluate and explain different experimental designs) are effective in promoting children's scientific reasoning, however, the…

This study contributes to the literature by shedding light on students' learning by examining and comparing students' gestures in two educational contexts: geological field trips and classroom-based modeling activities. This study engaged 10 middle-school students in two different geological field trips and two classroom-based modeling activities…

The study explored the effects of robotic-assisted applications on the variables of academic achievement and problem-solving skills in the "Propagation of Light" unit of the 5th grade science course. The study employed the pretest-posttest control group design, one of the quasi-experimental methods. The study sample consist of 36 5th…