The effect of mind-intelligence games on primary school first graders' academic achievement and cognitive characteristics in mathematics course

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the affect of mind-intelligence games on primary school first graders' academic achievement and cognitive characteristics in mathematics course. The research was applied in a public primary school located in Adana Karataş district, between 2020 and 2021 accdemic year. The research was carried out with a total of 24 students who were randomly selected from the second grade classes in a public primary school. Moreover, the research process has been completed 10 weeks perriod and each week two course hours (each course hour 30 minutes). The quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups was used as the research model. Within the scope of primary school second grade mathematics curriculum; paper-and-pencil games with a group (experiment1, n=8) and box games with a group (experiment2, n=8), intelligence games activities were applied for ten weeks, one day in a week and two lesson hours each week (one course time = 30 minutes). The activities in the current curriculum were applied on the students in the control group (control, n=8) for ten weeks, for a total of 20 course hours, two course hours per week. Instructional procedures in both groups (experiment1, experiment2, control) were implemented via distance education (Zoom). As data collection tools, mathematics course pattern achievement test (M-ÖBT) was used to measure students' success in mathematics lesson on pattern subjects, RAVEN-IQ test to measure fluent intelligence, short-term memory performance test and visual memory performance tests were used. The results of the research showed that there was a significant difference between the visual memory capacities of the students regrding the groups. Visual memory capacities of the students who participate in the paper-pencil games were significantly higher than the students in the other groups. In this context, it is thought that mind-intelligence games have an effect that supports visual memory development. Keywords: Primary school students, distance education, mind and intelligence games, education, paper-and-pencil games, box games, visual memory, short-term memory, Raven-IQ, pattern achievement test.