مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - PRIMARY TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ABOUT GRADE 3 SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Abstract :

In this study it was aimed to carry out the opinion of primary teachers toward the grade 3science curriculum. For this purpose, the study utilizes the descriptive research model of the qualitative methodology. The data of this research have been collected from 63 primary teachers in 8 different elementary schools around the Buca province of Izmir. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with these teachers. In order to analyze the data, content analysis has been conducted and teachers’ answers have been codified. Through these codes, certain themes have been formed. Teachers have expressed their views with regards to the positive and negative sides of the grade 3 science curriculum and they also articulated how certain insufficiencies in the curriculum can be fixed. In general, teachers who have been interviewed view the grade 3 science class practice positively and express that the curriculum is suitable for the grade 4 level which well prepares the students for the grade 4. Teachers also consider the hours of the class taught sufficient for the students. However, teachers also articulate the insufficiencies of experiment and observation practices along with the weak conditions in school laboratories as these laboratories lack certain tools and materials.