The use of concept maps in the teaching of earth, moon, and sun concepts

In this study, the effect of using concept maps on sixth grade students' learning of the Earth, Moon and the Sun concepts is investigated. More specifically, the effects of concept maps on students' academic achievement, retention of knowledge and concept development were examined. The design of the study was single group pre-test post-test experimental design and the participants were all sixth grade students (a total of 10 students) in a secondary school in Sinop district in the 2016-2017 academic year. The students were taught based on the construction of concept maps for 5 weeks (20 hours in total). Within the scope of the study, a 14-item achievement test was given as pre-test and post-test before and after the experimental procedure in order to measure student achievement. In order to determine the retention of the concepts, the same test was given 3 months after the experimental procedure is completed. In order to see the conceptual development of the participants, concept maps constructed by the students were also evaluated. The concept maps are constructed through using CmapTools software. The findings of this study showed that concept maps contributed to the academic achievement, retention of knowledge, and concept development of sixth grade students in the learning of the Earth, Moon and the Sun unit. The findings are expected to contribute to the related literature and serve as an example for similar studies.