Science in the schooldyard: A study on the use of the schoolyard in the 7th grade science lesson

This study was carried out to determine the effect of using the school garden on students' attitudes towards outdoor learning, scientific process skills, scientific attitudes, motivation, views on the nature of science, academic achievement and retention levels and students' opinions in the "Pure Matter and Mixtures" unit of the seventh grade science course. The study was carried out as an action research with the study group consisting of 20 students studying in the seventh grade of secondary school in a public school in the 2021-2022 academic year, within the achievements of the science course, with the activities prepared and implemented by the researcher in the school garden of the "Pure Matter and Mixtures" unit for seven weeks. In the study, quantitative data were collected with the Attitude Scale towards Outdoor Learning in Science Course (FBDAHÖYTÖ)', 'Scientific Process Skills Scale (BSB)', 'Scientific Attitude Scale (BTÖ)', 'Motivation Scale for Science Learning (FÖYMÖ)', 'Opinions about the Nature of Science Scale' (BDİİGÖ) and 'Academic Achievement Test (ABT)' and qualitative data were collected through student interview form, researcher and student diaries. The scales were applied as pre-test before the study and post-test after the study. During the implementation phase of the activities, diaries were kept by the researcher and the students and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with the students before and after the implementation. When the data obtained in the study were examined, it was determined that there was a significant difference in favour of the post-test in students' attitudes towards outdoor learning, scientific process skills, scientific attitudes, motivation and views on the nature of science at the end of the activities carried out in the school garden. In the study, it was concluded that the students willingly participated in the science lesson in the school garden, had a lot of fun in the activities, conducted scientific experiments, started to like the science lesson more, and their interest and curiosity towards the lesson increased. 2023, xii + 188 pages Keywords: School Garden, Science Lesson, Attitude, Scientific Process Skills, Motivation, Nature of Science