Teachers' opinions on the detection and usability of metaphors and analogies in 3rd, 4th, and 7th grade science textbooks

Metaphors and analogies are very important for for students' cognitive and affective developments. Science textbooks contain abstract concepts that are difficult to understand. Metaphors and analogies used to learn and keep these concepts in mind are frequently used as analogies, figures and models in science textbooks. In this study, it was aimed to identify the metaphors and analogies in the 3rd, 4th and 7th grade science textbooks and to determine the teachers' opinions on the usability of metaphors and analogies. Within the scope of this general purpose, the following specific objectives have been tried to be achieved. These special purposes: i) Identification of metaphors and analogies by the researcher in the mentioned books, ii) Finalizing the metaphors and analogies identified by the researcher by taking the opinions of expert(s), iii) Then, creating a "Teacher Opinion Form" from the finalized metaphors and analogies- is in the form. In this research, document analysis technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The population of the research consists of science textbooks used as teaching materials in Turkey. "Teacher Opinion Form" was applied to 76 randomly selected science teachers working in primary and secondary schools in Kırşehir province and its districts, taking into account the "volunteer" principle. When we look at the table of indicators for the usability of metaphors and analogies found in the 3rd, 4th and 7th grade science textbooks, it is seen that 41.6% of the teachers use analogies and metaphors in their lessons, and when we look at the table of indicators for the familiarity of metaphors and analogies, it is seen that 71.6% of the teachers know analogies and metaphors. In line with this result, it is recommended to include more analogies and metaphors in subjects that students have difficulty understanding, and to provide in-service training for teachers on the use of analogy and metaphor.