The effect of using the learning cycle model on the fifth grade students' acquisition of scientific concepts and the development of their scientific thinking

Abstract

The present study aims at investigating the effect of the learning circle model on acquiring the fifth scientific grade female students' chemical concepts and developing their scientific thinking. The sample consisted of (60) students. It was distributed into two groups, (30) students for the experimental group in the Al-Talay'a preparatory school which was taught according to the learning circle model and (30) students for the control group in the Al-Andulus preparatory school which was taught according to the conventional method. Equating procedures were used to equalize the two groups in a number of non-experimental variables. To apply the study, the researchers prepared the lesson plans for both groups of the research. To achieve the aims and test the hypotheses of the study, two tools have been required: an achievement test to measure the acquisition of chemical concepts and a test to measure scientific thinking. The achievement test was objective in the form of multiple choice and comprises (44) items. The validity of the test was examined and the content validity type was used for this purpose. The test was presented to a number of jurors and the (80%) percentage was used as a percentage for accepting the item and all items got the percentage and more. The second tool was a previously made test to measure scientific thinking which consisted of (20) items. After collecting and analyzing the data by using the T-test for two independent samples, at (0.05) level of significance, the results indicated that: -There is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of acquiring the chemical concepts for the experimental group and those of the control group for the benefit of the experimental group. -There is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of developing scientific thinking for the experimental group and those of the control group for the benefit of the experimental group. -There is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of developing scientific thinking for the experimental group from the pretest to the posttest for the benefit of the posttest. In light of the results obtained, the researcher concluded that the learning circle model is effective in the acquisition of chemical concepts and the development of scientific thinking. Also, a number of recommendations and suggestions are put forward.