Objectives of democratic life unit in social studies lesson at the 6th grade of elemantary education and the level of attaining these objectives

The aim of this study is measuring and evaluating the objectives of "Democratic Life" Unit in Social Studies Lesson at 6th grade, the level of attaining these objectives and the variables affecting this level of attaining. The sudents in determined schools were given an "Achievement Test" with purpose of revealing the level of attaining the unit objectives. The population of this study involves Social Studies teachers in the elemantary education schools, which are linked up with the Ministry of National Education, in the city center of Afyonkarahisar and in the villages that are linked with the city center and the students in these schools, in 2004-2005 academic year. Eleven Social Studies Teachers in nine elemantary education schools in the city center and in the village and smalltowns which are linked with the city center, 473 students in these schools have been involved in the research as the sample. At the and of the unit, a test which had been prepared according to the content of Democratic Life" Unit (first application) and approximately two months later, The Retention Test" were applied to the results of this test. Results of the research can be summarized like this: According to results of both these applications of the achievement test, it was clear that there was a difference in favour of the girls in the matter of sudents levels of attaining the objectives of "Democratic Life" Unit, and girls were more successful than boys (first appllication:Boys:63.73, Girls:67.62,retention test:Boys:58.40,girls:62.30). According to the retention test, both genders faced with the loss of learning. In terms of variable of mather's job, according to the results of both tests, noticed on behalf of the students whose mothers are housewives. In terms of variable of father's profession, it was seen that the students whose fathers have a regular job requiring a high level of education were more successful. In terms of variable of education level of parents, it was proved that education level of parents let their children attain objective of this unit in a positive way. There is a correct relation between education level of parents and achievement level of students. Students attained objectives of the unit in higher level as long as education level of their parents was high. In terms of variable of schools environment, a difference was found in favour of the schools in the centre of the city (first appllication:Village/smalltown:55.30, City Center:73.55, retention test: Village/smalltown:53.42, City Center:65.46) In terms of teacher gender, no remarkable difference was found. It was understood that whether teachers teaching the subject were male or female did not affect students' level of attaining objectives of the unit. In terms of variable of teachers' experience in their profession, it was understood that the more experienced teachers were, the higher level students attained objectives of the unit. As a result, it can be claimed that teachers' professional experieces have an important role in students' level of attaining objectives of the unit. In terms of variable of teachers 'education level, according to the results of the first application and the retention test, a difference, which was on behalf of students of teacher s graduating from education faculty, between students of teachers graduating from education faculty and students of teachers graduating from Science- Arts Faculty and teachers marking the other choice (Completing bachelor degree) was found. It was understood that teachers' fields dont have an effective role in attaining objectives of the unit.