How the seventh grade students visualize atomic structure and models

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how the seventh-grade students visualize the atomic structure and models in their minds. The problem of the study is “How do the seventh grade students visualize the atomic structure and models?” This study is conducted with 25 seventh-grade students in a state school, Bursa. Qualitative research methodology was adopted in the study. As data collection tools, worksheets were collected via four different activities by the researcher. Data collection process took two weeks (eight lessons). Worksheets consist of different questions about atom and structure and also atom models. For the validity and objective evaluation of the worksheets, an analysis schema was prepared for four different activities by a subject instructor and two science teachers with two or four years teaching experiences. Analysis schema and worksheets were re-evaluated by the science teacher with three years of teaching experiences. Consequently, students’ visualization of the atom structures do not match with the scientific models. And also, students confuse the basic concepts about atomic structure.