Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

This study explores how elementary school students construct food pyramid prediction models using scientific reasoning. Thirty small groups of sixth-grade students in the Kyoungki province (n=138) participated in this study; each small group constructed a food pyramid prediction model based on scien...

This study explores how elementary school students construct food pyramid prediction models using scientific reasoning. Thirty small groups of sixth-grade students in the Kyoungki province (n=138) participated in this study; each small group constructed a food pyramid prediction model based on scientific reasoning, utilizing prior knowledge on topics such as biotic and abiotic factors, food chains, food webs, and food pyramid concepts. To understand the scientific reasoning applied by the students during the modeling process, three forms of qualitative data were collected and analyzed: each small group's discourse, their representation, and the researcher's field notes. Based on this data, the researcher categorized the students' model patterns into three categories and identified how the students used scientific reasoning in their model patterns. The study found that the model patterns consisted of the population number variation model, the biological and abiotic factors change model, and the equilibrium model. In the population number variation model, students used phenomenon-based reasoning and relation-based reasoning to predict variations in the number of producers and consumers. In the biotic and abiotic factors change model, students used relation-based reasoning to predict the effects on producers and consumers as well as on decomposers and abiotic factors. In the equilibrium model, students predicted that "the food pyramid would reach equilibrium," using relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning. This study demonstrates that elementary school students can systematically elaborate on complicated ecology concepts using scientific reasoning and modeling processes.

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