The effect of learning by doing with simple materials on academic achievement of 7th grade students in mass and weight

In this study, the effect of learning by doing with simple materials on the academic achievement of 7th grade students in mass and weight was examined. The research was designed for the pretest-posttest quasi-experimental model with unequaled control group, which is one of the quantitative research methods. In the study, random sampling method was utilized. The sample of the research consists of 40 (20 experimental, 20 control group) 7th grade students who are enrolled to the middle social-economic class secondary school in Seyhan district of Adana province. The data was gathered in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. In the experimental group, the subject was taught by learning and doing with simple materials, whereas in the control group, the subject was mainly based on question-answer, direct instruction technique and discussion without any experimental applications. An academic achievement test developed by the researcher was used as a data collection tool. Academic achievement test was applied to both groups as a pre-test before the lessons. At the end of two weeks (8 class hours), the same tests were applied again as a post-test. In the analysis of the obtained data, descriptive statistics and parametric tests were used. At the end of the study, it was revelaed that science experiments with simple materials had a positive effect on the academic achievement of the students in the science course. Keywords: Experiments with simple materials, science education, science experiments, academic success, communication skills