The effect of teaching science based on project based learning approach to the academic success and attitude

The principal aim of this research is to study the effect of project based learning to the academic success and attitude to Science Course of the students for the chapter of ? If There Isn?t Pressure?? in the seventh grade Science Course of Primary School.The study was conducted with the seventh grade students in Atatürk Primary School in Pozantı-Adana, in the second mid term of 2006-2007 academic year. 64 students, as 32 students each for experimental and control group, were attended to the research. In the research pre and post test with control group experimental model was used.An experimental and a control group were constituted in order to investigate the effect of project based learning approach to academic success and attitude to Science Course of students. Students of experimental and control groups were tried to make equal due to variables (such as gender, grade, and number). In the research the data was obtained from personal information form, academic success test, and attitude scale.The data gained during research was analyzed by using t-test, covariance after giving arithmetic mean, and standard deviation figuratively. Statistical procedure was performed by using SPSS 11,5. Obtained data was interpreted on.05 level of significance.At the end of research, it was attained that there was a significance difference between the ?Science Course Success Test? and ?Science Course Attitude Scale? post test score of students of experimental group which was applied project based learning approach and students of control group which was applied traditional teaching method in favor of experimental group.As a result, it can be said that teaching by project based learning approach changed students? academic success and attitude to Science Course positively.Key Words: Teaching Science, the Project Based Learning, Academic Success, Attitude to Science Course