The Relations between the Electric Circuit Concept and the Spatial Cognition in lower Grade of Elementary School

Abstract

To master the electicity for the beginners, the electric circuit is one of the most important concepts. Generally, the electric circuit is defined as a route, which connects the ends of the battery with the wire, and as a closed figure. The circuit is necessary to send the electric current. If the circuit was not closed, the exothermic and magnetic reactions would not happened. The concept is essential to the electricity learning. In this study, the author investigated the child's cognitive ability on the circuit concept by means of the figure cognition. From the analysis of the data for this investigation, the following findings were obtained : 1) The position, which circuits are presented in the face of children, had much influence on the circuit cognition. 2) As the twist number of the wire increased, the circuit cognition became difficult. 3) For recognizing the circuit concept, the following two spatial cognitive abilities are necessary. a. Locomoting the viewpoint, the ability to identify several circuits (shape—const ant) in the different positions. b. The cognitive ability on Topological space : "Even if the circuit twists, the bulb in closed circuit lights up".