A research on the effect of science activities conducted in the first grade of primary school on the basic scientific process skills of students

This study aimed to examine the effects of science activities designed for first-grade primary school students on their basic science process skills. The study group of the research consisted of 22 students, aged 60-72 months, studying in the first grade of a primary school in Afyonkarahisar province in the 2022-2023 academic year. The scientific process skills scale (BSSÖ) developed by Kavak (2020), a semi-structured interview form and a personal information form created by the researcher were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the data of the study, which used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design without a control group, normality test was applied and it was understood that it was suitable for parametric tests. Paired samples t-test was used to compare BSBÖ pre-test and post-test scores. Independent samples t-test was used to examine whether there was a difference in BSBÖ scores in terms of variables such as gender, preschool education, and mother's education level. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine whether there was a difference in PPS scores in terms of the father's educational status variable. The data obtained from the focus group interviews held with the participants after the science activities were examined with descriptive analysis. According to the results of the research, it was determined that there was no significant difference in BSBÖ scores in terms of gender, preschool education, mother's education level and father's education level variables. As a result of the applied science activities, it was determined that there was a significant difference in BSBÖ scores. As a result of the focus group interviews conducted with the participants who were applied science activities, it was seen that science activities attracted the students' attention, they made associations with daily life, and they used basic scientific process skills while applying science activities. As a result, it has been seen that students' basic scientific process skills can be improved through science activities.