Investigation of critical thinking skills of 5th, 6th and 7th grade students in mathematics lesson

In this thesis study, the critical thinking skills of fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students in the mathematics course were examined. The aim of the research was to determine how the critical thinking skills of students at different ages and educational levels change in the mathematics course. The study was conducted during the 2023-2024 academic year with 9 students from the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades of a public school in the Gördes district of Manisa. Three students from each grade level were selected from the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. Four math questions were asked to the students regarding their critical thinking skills in the mathematics course. Data on students' critical thinking skills in the mathematics course were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The obtained data were analyzed using content analysis. The results of the research showed that the students' critical thinking skill levels were generally at a moderate level and that critical thinking skills in the mathematics course varied among different age groups.