The effects of 5E model on the scientific process skills, academic achievement and attitude towards the course of the unit the dreams which became real in the 5th grade social studies lesson

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of 5E model on students' science process skills, academic achievement and their attitudes toward Social Studies course throughout the teaching and learning unit named "The Dreams Which Becaming Real" with the learning area titled "Science, Technology and Society". Quasi experimental design method was used in the study. The data was gathered using a Science Process Skills Test, an Academic Achivement Test and a Social Studies Course Attitude Scale (Demir & Akengin, 2010) Descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, and frequeincies were used to analyze data as two-way ANOVA for mixed measures. The participants of the study were fifth grader students of Antalya/Döşemealtı Albay Süleyman Külahçı Middle School during the fall semester of 2012-2013 academic year. There were two existing fifth grade classes at the school. One of these existing groups was randomly assigned as experimental group. 5E model was employed in the while in the control group was taught using half-constructivist instruction. The participants of the experimental group were 8 females and 10 males, while there were 7 females and 11 males in the control group with a total of 36 participants. The results revealed that there was an increase of the degree in science process skills, academic achievement and attitudes towards Social Studies course in both experimental group and control group. The results revealed that the increase of the degree in the science process skills and academic achievement of experimental group is much more than control group's; on the other hand, there is no significant increase of the degree in attitudes towards Social Studies course. According to the results of the study, E5 Model is recommended to use in Social Studies teaching. Key Words: Social Studies Teaching, 5E Model, Half-Constructivist Instruction, Science Process Skills, Academic Achievement, Social Studies Course Attitute Scale.