A Study on the Development of the Temperature Concept in the Elementary and Lower Secondary School Students

Abstract

"Temperature" is the popular word for the students. But the property of the temperture concept is so different from the other area and volume concepts in essence, that the temperature concept is very difficult to be recognized by the students. The authors researched the temperature concept in the elementary and lower secondary school students using the questionnaires on the two phases of the temperature concept, the temperature as intensive property and the temperature sense in the various surrounding conditions of the water containers. The findings of the study are as follows. (1) The temperature concept in the students develops rapidly in the two marked periods, one period from 1st grade to 3rd grade and the other period from 7th grade to 8th grade. (2) The temperature concept in the students does not develop in the two periods, one period from 3rd grade to 7th grade and the other period from 8th grade to 9th grade. (3) All students in the 1st grade and 2nd grade do not mostly recognize the temperature concept. (4) The temperature sense of the students in any grade has the tendency to be perplexed by the difference of the water depth and the water container located.