How do Young Children Understand Water Absorption in Plants?

—Focusing on the Transition Period from Kindergarten to Elementary School—

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to propose basic data for discussing the scientific meanings of cultivation activities in kindergarten. This study examined whether children could understand the relationships between water absorption and the function of plant roots and stems, utilizing a longitudinal design（Time 1 = last year of kindergarten, Time 2 = first year of elementary school）. 33 young children participated in the study. The main results were as follows: the children developed a more sophisticated understanding the functions of plant roots and stem in the first year of elementary school. However, it was difficult for the first-grade children to fully understand the function of stems. The children eventually came to a point where they did not have to use personification to explain the function of plants. In this paper, I discuss these results from the perspectives of a rich sense of humanity, the germ of scientific ideas, and early childhood collaboration.