Perceptions of Lower Elementary School Children About Thinking from the Perspective of Insects

Abstract

In this study, the authors conducted a questionnaire survey among second-grade elementary school students who have bred and cared for insects at school, to identify (1) whether they can think from the perspective of insects and (2) if so, whether their thinking is centered on the life, ecology, and nature of insects. The results were as follows. (1) First, 25.0% of the children who bred and cared for praying mantises and 23.1% of the children who raised crickets described their thoughts from the point of view of insects. These students were thus confirmed to have acquired insect perspectives, such as seeing insects as having family and friends and empathizing with the feelings of insects as inferred from their appearance and condition. (2) Of the aforementioned children, 13.5% of the praying mantis group and 8.7% of the cricket group described their ideas centering on the life, ecology, and nature of insects. These students’ ideas included their understanding of nature (insects), their understanding of the connection between nature (insects) and humans (themselves), and sensitivity and emotions toward nature (insects) which are important for coexistence with nature. It is thus important to provide opportunities for students to think from the standpoint of insects in their classes on living environment studies, and to incorporate the ideas about insects’ original life, ecology, and nature that they express in these situations. Such opportunities are confirmed to be useful in forming the basis for children to deepen their awareness of the coexistence between nature and humans as they progress from living environment studies to more advanced science in their education.