Fourth grade primary school student's misconceptions about astronomical phenomena: A survey of teacher's views

The aim of the current research was to investigate the 4th grade primary school students’ misconceptions about astronomical phenomena from teachers’ views. A sample including 41 teachers in 4th grade in 18 educational districts of the city of Tehran and cities of Tehran province were selected and participated in the study. A qualitative and quantitative methodology was used for this investigation. Data were collected through open-ended questions and group discussion methods was developed aimed at identifying children’s naive theories about topics within the astronomy concepts in 4th grade science textbook. The analysis of both written responses and group discussion showed that most of the pupils had difficulties with the understanding of astronomical phenomena. The findings of this study are important to design appropriate teaching strategies in order to teach astronomical phenomena in schools. In the light of the study, it can be suggested that due to the Ministry of Education’s recent revisions of the science education curricula and instructional materials, further emphasis should be put on the astronomical phenomena and its modeling in relation to the course books.