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http://dx.doi.org/10.14697/jkase.2015.35.2.0179

A Case Study on Spatial Thinking Revealed in Elementary School Science Class on Solar System and Stars  

Lee, Jeong-A (Seoul National University)
Lee, Kiyoung (Kangwon National University)
Park, Young-Shin (Chosun University)
Maeng, Seungho (Seoul National University)
Oh, Hyunseok (Seoul National University Middle School)
Publication Information
Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education / v.35, no.2, 2015 , pp. 179-197 More about this Journal
Abstract
Based on the importance of spatial thinking to understand celestial motion, this study aimed to investigate how spatial thinking was treated in astronomy classes. For this study, we analyzed four elementary teachers' science classes about the unit 'solar systems and stars' in 5th grade in terms of spatial thinking. The results showed that sharing perspectives and orientation explicitly between a teacher and students were important for students to understand celestial motion. Providing the earth-based and the space-based viewpoints simultaneously were helpful for students' understanding of celestial motion. Based on these results, this study suggested that clarifying the viewpoint and orientation, showing the earth-based and the space-based viewpoint simultaneously, and reorganizing the relative units of astronomy based on celestial motion and spatial thinking.
Keywords
spatial thinking; astronomy class; celestial motion; earth-based view; space-based view;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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