Using POE to Promote Young Children’s Understanding of the Properties of Air

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to assess young children’s understanding of the propertiesof air, and to demonstrate Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) activities developed toimprove their understanding. Good instructional models, such as POE, may helpyoung children better understand abstract and invisible physical phenomena like air.POE activities create a prediction-outcome conflict that helps children to rethink andreorganize what they observe. Before performing POE experiments, the majority ofyoung children did not think that air is everywhere; 89% of children believed thatthere is air in their noses, but 64% contended that there is no air in an open container.After reaching successively contradictory judgments in POE activities, 36% of childrenchanged their initial, incorrect ideas about air. Although there was some modestsuccess achieved in this study, for children obtaining consistent and holistic conceptsin science is a long-lasting process. The conclusion of this study suggests that preschoolchildren can benefit from a wide range of POE activities in different topics, especiallyin physical sciences because with professional guided learning they are morelikely to develop a correct understanding of scientific concepts.