Investigation of Pupils' Views on the 'Science Story' in the Third and Fourth Graders' Science Textbooks

3, 4학년 '과학이야기'에 대한 초등학생들의 인식 조사

The purpose of this study is to investigate how $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ grade elementary students view about 'Science story', which is recently inserted in the new version of science text books. For the study, four hundred $4^{th}$ graders at four schools were considered in the area of Cheonan city, Chungnam province. The degree of student's preference, preferable science topics from the 'Science story', the reason for their preference, and their attitudes toward general science were examined. The study was initiated after student's reading of the 'Science story' (Advanced science, Science in the life, Science in the history, and Future science directions). The student attitudes toward general science were examined using questionnaire survey prior to others. The results of the study are summarized: First, the students who have more interests and affirmative attitudes about science subjects with high scores are more favored about 'Science story'. Second, generally the students prefer reading topics in the order of 1) Science in the life, 2) Advanced science, 3) Science in the history, and 4) Future science directions. However the order was flexible depending on student's gender, preference, and attitudes. Third, the student's interests about 'Science story' was mostly raised from the new scientific topics in the book. And it was also raised partly from their personal interests and usefulness for science learning. Based on the results of our study, we included some suggestions for the improved 'Science story' and their utilizations.