The effect of mathematical modeling activities on elementary school students' number sense and attitudes towards mathematics

In this study, the effects of mathematical modeling activities on fourth grade students' number sense and attitudes towards mathematics were examined. The study, which was designed with a quasi-experimental unbalanced pretest-posttest control group design from quantitative research methods, was conducted with fourth grade students studying in a public primary school affiliated to İpekyolu District Directorate of National Education in Van province. The Number Sense Test developed by Çekirdekci (2015) and the Attitude Towards Mathematics Scale short form adapted by Hacıömeroğlu (2017) were used as pretest and posttest in the study. While the experimental group was taught with mathematical modeling activities developed by the researcher, the control group continued to be taught in accordance with the current curriculum. In the study, post-tests were applied after 10 weeks of activities. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 22 program. According to the data obtained from the study, it was seen that the number sense pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group showed a significant difference. In the control group, no significant difference was found for the number sense tests. A significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test scores of the Attitude Towards Mathematics Scale for the experimental group, but no significant difference was found in the control group. When the number sense scores between the groups were examined, a significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups, and this difference was in favor of the experimental group. According to the attitude towards mathematics scores, a significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups. This difference was in favor of the experimental group. From the data obtained, it was concluded that mathematical modeling activities had a positive effect on students' number sense and attitudes towards mathematics. The findings and results were interpreted in detail. At the end of the study, suggestions for further research are given.