The effect of using the creative method in science to primary school students? opinions about science and the problem cases related with the environment

The aims of this study is i) to determine the 7th grade students? attitudes towards using the creative drama method in science and, ii) to reveal the effect of the creative drama method to students? problem cases related with the environment.The sample of the study consisted of sixty five, 7th grade students who are studying at Türk İsveç Kardeşlik Primary School. This study was applied in the second term 2007-2008 academic year, and it lasted 5 weeks.There are two steps in this study: In the first step, an opinion form was prepared to get the opinions of students and it was applied to get primary school students? opinions about drama. In the second step, the environment and people topic was taught through creative drama method. It was searched if there was any change of the students? approaches to the problem cases related with the environment. Before teaching ?environment and people? topic, students were asked some questions about environmental problems by using an interview form to determine their opinions and the same questions were asked after the application. It lasted 5 weeks to teach the environment and people topic with creative drama method.To analyze the qualitative data obtained from the resarch content analysis and frequency distribution were made. Research findings showed that i) after making frequency distribution of students? opinions about the creative drama method, it was seen that some students are talking frequently about some statements.These results are gained according to the data which was obtained from interviews with the students about the creative drama method: the learning is more efficient and enjoyable. And also, interest towards science is more than before, and students like science lesson more and want to do further researches. Also, the self confidence of students and motivations of students are increased and they listened to the lessons more carefully.In addıtion, it was observed that the approaches of students about the problems related with the environment scemed to be changed after the application. İt was seen that there is a change about the students? solution suggestion apprpoches to problrms related with the environment. The students? suggestions were changed positively in the end of the application. In the light of the results some important suggestions have been presented to contribute forthcoming studies.Keywords: Creative Drama, Attitude, Environment, Teaching Science