The impact of teaching physical education and mathematics through interdisciplinary methods in the international baccalaureate middle years program on 5th grade students' attitudes towards both subjects

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of interdisciplinary activities associated with mathematics in physical education classes within the framework of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme on the attitudes of fifth-grade students towards physical education and mathematics classes. Interdisciplinary educational approaches hold critical importance, as these methods provide students with the opportunity to establish connections between different disciplines, thereby achieving a more integrated learning experience. The study was conducted in a foundation school located in Istanbul, involving a total of 40 students aged between 10 and 11. The students were randomly divided into two groups. In the experimental group, interdisciplinary teaching methods that relate mathematics to physical education were applied; whereas, in the control group, students were taught using standard methods. At the conclusion of the study, a significant increase was observed in the attitudes of the students in the experimental group towards physical education and mathematics. These findings indicate that interdisciplinary teaching methods have a positive impact on students' attitudes. The contribution of this study lies in providing a deeper understanding of the effects of interdisciplinary teaching on student attitudes. The findings obtained offer valuable insights that can be utilized in educational practices and policy-making.