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Children’s Ideas about Animals |
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ABSTRACT of Thesis by
Agius Catherine & Pizzuto Sue Anne
Previous studies (Bell, 1964) have shown that
children hold alternative frameworks about Animals.
This research investigated the ideas about the ‘animal’ concept
that young Maltese children coming from Kindergarten
2 and Year 1 of local schools possess. The study
consisted of an informal interview made up of
seven questions that probed the children’s
knowledge about animals and inquired the sources
from where the children obtain their information.
Biological knowledge appeared to develop across
the age bracket from four years to six years.
Some of the conceptions identified hold the children’s
personal experiences. Trends similar to those
reported in other researches were identified;
young children have a distinctive framework of
what is an animal attributed to the stereotypical
characteristics of an animal being four-legged,
terrestrial and big in size. Sources identified
included mainly family influences emerging from
personal experiences and also media influences
from where children discover more about the Animal
Kingdom. There were no significant differences
noted across gender. This study recommends teaching
strategies which help teachers take serious considerations
to the children’s alternative frameworks
which they may hold before attempting formal
instruction in order to ensure meaningful learning.
B.Ed.(Hons)
Keywords:
animals
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