Examining the fourth grade primary school students understanding of the value of the motherhood through the metaphors

The aim of this study is to examine the meanings of the 4th grade primary school students on motherhood value through metaphors. For this purpose, students were asked to draw a picture expressing their understanding about motherhood value. In this qualitative study, phenomenology pattern was used. The study group consisted of 64 (32 female and 32 male) 4th grade Meskhetian primary school students who were studying in Üzümlü district of Erzincan in education year of 2017-2018. Content analysis method was used in data analysing. By using the explanations made by the students, it was tried to increase the validity and reliability level in collecting the data. In the end of the research, the pictures of the 4th grade primary school studentswhich they draw in terms of the meanings they put on the value of motherhood are divided into conceptual categories by the common characteristics they have. Six conceptual categories are defined as being a source of infinite affection, being specific-peculiar to mother, being a source of attachment, being self-care / security / need-relieving, being specific to family and giving effort / devotion / altruism. These conceptual categories were examined according to the variables of gender, number of siblings, academic achievement, occupational status of mother and status of being Meskhetian then it was observed according to these variables that if there were similarities / differences. It is concluded that there is similarities in conceptual categories the terms of gender. It was found that the pictures which students draw about the understandings they have on the value of motherhood belonged to the categories of being the source of eternal love, being specific to the mother and being the source of attachment respectively. It has been seen that there is a parallelism between the descriptions and pictures. In the light of the evidence it was found that the students developed suitable metaphors for value of motherhood and expressed them correctly with pictorial expression. It was concluded that the value of motherhood expressed by the students mostly with the unconditional love. Key Words: Family, Education of Values, Motherhood, Value of Motherhood