The effects of the realistic mathematics education (RME) approach in the teaching of the concepts of length, area and volume to the 5th grade primary school students

This research aims to examine effects of the realistic mathematics education (RME) approach on achievement of students in the teaching of the concepts of length, area, and volume to the 5th grade primary school students.This research was conducted in two schools, which are determined by easily accessible conditional sampling, in Yozgat in the second semester of 2009-2010 school years. The sample of this study consists of 37 students who participated 19 students from experimental and 18 students from control groups.Realistic Mathematic Education approach has been applied to experimental group students while Activity-based Education approach applied with the participation of lecturers to control group students through the MEB (Ministry of National Education) textbook activities.To reach a reasonable response to the research question, mathematics achievement test (pre-post tests), attitudes measurement test, and a survey were conducted to the participants.The data gathered in this experimental research have been analyzed by the use of 0,05 significance level equivalent samples and of independent samples t-test. According to the results of this research: in the teaching of the concepts of length, area, and volume to the 5th grade primary school students those who participated to the activities that were held in accordance with the RME approach are more successful than those who participated to the activities that were held in accordance with the new primary schools mathematics curriculum. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of the attitudes towards mathematics.Key Words: Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) / length/ area/ volume / Mathematics Education