The effect of the activities improving imagination in life sciences lesson on the improvement of learners's creative imagination

The aim of the research is to determine the effect of imagination improving activities in Life Science teaching on the creative imagination improvement of students. In this context, the research was designed using a convergent parallel design from the mixed method designs in which qualitative and quantitative research methods were conducted together. The research study was carried out in two different third grades of a state primary school affiliated to Bursa Provincial Directorate of National Education, Mustafakemalpaşa District Directorate of National Education, in the second term of the 2020-2021 academic year. Within the scope of the application, the imagination improving activities designed for each outcome in the units of Life in Our Country and Life in Nature in the 3rd grade Life Sciences lesson were carried out with the students after each outcome was taught by the teacher of the lesson. Data collection and implementation took 13 weeks in total. In the collection of data, quantitative and qualitative data collection tools were used in accordance with the design of the research. The Test of Creative Imagery Abilities was used to collect quantitative data. The Test of Creative Imagery Abilities was developed by Jankowska and Krawowski (2015) to measure the creative imagination abilities of individuals and was adapted into Turkish by Aydemir (2019). In the collection of qualitative data, student interview forms of "My Dream Country" and "My Dream Nature" developed by the researcher, researcher observation notes, audio recordings, and interviews with teachers and parents were used. Content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. In the quantitative data analysis, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test were used. According to the result obtained from the findings obtained from both methods, it was understood that the imagination improving activities, the effects of which were investigated in the research, contributed to the development of creative imagination, development of speaking skills, gaining self-confidence, and social and emotional development. In this context, imagination improving activities can be used in lessons by primary school teachers in order to support the development of imagination of students in relation to the outcomes of primary school curriculum.