Effect of raising awareness on success while teaching geometrical solids to 6th grade students

The aim of this study is to define 6th grade secondary school students' geometrical solids classifying strategies. The research was conducted with two groups. One of the groups was the experimental group which was composed of 23 students and the other group was control group which was composed of 42 students. Before studying "Volume in Geometrical Solids", which was the subject of second semester, interview video shootings were done about that topic. Except from this, name of the geometrical solids were used during the lessons to increase students' awareness about the subject. These extra studies were done only in experimental group. Success average between groups was compared according to pre and post exams. The research sample of this study was 65 (31 female and 34 male) 6th grade students from Ankara Private Çankaya Anafartalar secondary school. Mixed method was used for the study. This method combines qualitative and quantitative data and this is the main reason to choose mixed method. Using gual & guan data to verify the results makes this method more reliable. Groups were compared according to students' pre-test and post-test grades. As a result, when groups' pre-test and post-test results were examined, it was seen that students in the experimental groups were more successful than the students in the control group. In addition to gathering test grades, interview video shootings were done in the experimental group. By doing so, students' interest and curiosity on the geometrical solids were increased. Preparing students for the subject before teaching made an important contribution on students' success. Keywords: Geometrical solids, mathematical thinking skill, mathematics education, teaching geometry