Development and evaluation of science-based and interdisciplinary school garden program within the scope of free activity studies course

In 2010-2011 Academic Year Free Activity Studies Course (FASC) introduced to primary 1st grade curriculum. Via FASC, it was aimed to both to ease the course load for primary first grade and make students to gain life skills and acquire positive characteristic and moral features by doing various social, cultural, artistic and educational activities. However, in practice, it was determined that some situations were experienced in which students were let alone apart from educational and instructional applications. Thinking that this situation was arose from a certain program was not presented by Ministry of National Education, along with this study it was tried to develop a suitable program appropriate with FASC?s aim and content. Within this scope, needs analysis was conducted for FASC by taking teachers? opinions into consideration and program development studies were carried out in direction with the outcomes of needs analysis. According with teacher opinions for FASC, science-based and interdisciplinary School Garden Program (SGP) was developed. The aim of this study is to define the effect of SGP, which was developed for FASC, on students? science academic success and attitudes towards science and technology course from different variables. Experimental method was used in this study. The study was carried out at 2 primary schools in Trabzon in the spring term of 2010-2011 Academic Year. 142 classroom teachers and 187 students, 94 of them in experiment group and 93 of them in control group, were included in the study.10 classroom teachers in Trabzon were interviewed, 5 classroom teachers took place in observation studies, 132 classroom teachers working in different places of Turkey were included in questionnaire studies. As for students, science academic success test and science attitude test were used. After the analysis of data gathered through study, it was determined that classroom teachers were required in-service training within the scope of FASC and half-flexible programs enriched with out-class settings. It was concluded that SGP, developed within this respect was effective on student?s science academic success and attitudes. Key Words: Free Activity Studies Course, School Garden Program, Academic Success, Attitude