Examination of the level of understanding of the migration phenomenon in 4-5-year-old children

The aim of this study is to examine the level of understanding of the phenomenon of migration among 4-5-year-old children. An experimental method was used in the research. The study group consists of children attending two preschool classrooms located in two primary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the Fatih district of Istanbul during the first semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. The total sample consisted of 16 children, with 8 children in the control group and 8 in the experimental group. The study group was selected using a purposive sampling method. As a data collection tool, the "Migration Phenomenon Understanding Checklist for 4-5-Year-Old Children" was used. The education program based on understanding the phenomenon of migration was implemented for the experimental group over a period of 20 school days / 15 hours. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. According to the results of the research, a statistically significant difference was found between the post-test scores of the experimental group (n=8, mean rank=12.44, sum of ranks=99.50) and the control group (n=8, mean rank=4.56, sum of ranks=36.50). The results suggest that the implemented education program contributed to children's understanding of the migration phenomenon. It is considered that the education program developed in this study can be used in preschools and adapted for different grade levels.