The effect of multi-sensory education program on 5-6 years old children's acquisition of living and non-living concepts

The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of an educational program that was developed regarding multi-sensory education approach on the acquisition of living and non-living concepts for 5-6 years old preschoolers. Concerning this aim, an 8-week interdisciplinary and multi-sensory education program was developed to teach living and non-living concepts for the preschoolers. The participants of the study were total 84 (40 female, 44 male) preschool children who enroll in two preschools in Antalya. The data of the present study were gathered through ?living and non-living concept awareness evaluation questionnaire form? which was developed and also used by the researcher as pre-test, post-test and retention test of the study. While paired independent-samples T-Test, One Way ANOVA and Two Way ANOVA were employed for the statistical analysis of the gathered data, descriptive analysis were also used in the analysis of the participants? expressions in defining the living and non-living concepts. The analysis of the pre-test results, which examine 5 and 6 year old children in control and experiemental groups in terms of their ability to define the living and non-living things, revealed that there is not any significant difference between control and experimental groups. The findings also revealed that the treatment was effective in the identification of the plant and non-living concepts in experimental groups both in 5 year old and in 6 year old children. When the findings were compared with reference to the age groups, it is found that there is not any signficant difference in terms of identifiying plants, animal, human and non-living things. However, when the pre-test, post-test and retention test results of the experimental group in 5 and 6 year old children were compared, it is found that there is a significant difference in terms of identifiying living and non-living things. Key words:preschool, multi-sensory education, living and non-living concepts.