THERMAL CONCEPTS AND PHENOMENA IN EARLY CHIDHOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Authors

  • Michalis Ioannou University of Patras, Greece
  • George Kaliampos University of Nicosia, Cyprus
  • Glykeria Fragkiadaki Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Panagiotis Pantidos National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
  • Konstantinos Ravanis University of Patras, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i5.4770

Keywords:

science education, early childhood, mental representations, thermal concepts, thermal phenomena, literature review

Abstract

In the current study, an attempt is made to bring together and synthesize research data on the way early childhood children approach thermal phenomena and concepts. In this pool of data, the mental representations of young children, the barriers to the conceptualization of these phenomena and the effectiveness of specialized teaching interventions are highlighted and discussed. Going through a series of empirical studies the paper focuses on critical aspects of thermal phenomena and concepts such as thermal conductivity in solid and liquid materials, expansion and contraction of metals, thermal insulation, use of a thermometer etc. A considerable part of these studies prominently deals with the changes in the state of materials and in particular water and the water cycle in the natural environment. The literature review presented here provides a detailed overview and a classification of these studies as well as highlights the need to foreground the systemic character of phenomena and the unifying character of the concepts when approaching or researching about thermal phenomena in early childhood educational settings.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Michalis Ioannou, University of Patras, Greece

    Michalis Ioannou is a kindergarten teacher and researcher - PhD student at the University of Patras, Greece.

  • George Kaliampos, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
    George Kaliampos is teaching and research staff at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
  • Glykeria Fragkiadaki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

    Glykeria Fragkiadaki is Αssistant Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

  • Panagiotis Pantidos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

    Panagiotis Pantidos is Αssistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

  • Konstantinos Ravanis, University of Patras, Greece
    Konstantinos Ravanis is Professor at the University of Patras, Greece.

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Published

2023-04-10

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 5 (2023)

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