This paper presents the findings of a research concerning the introduction to magnets and elementary magnetic properties in lower primary school children in a Piagetian perspective. Seven to eight year old children, in small groups, had at their disposal...
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This paper presents the findings of a research concerning the introduction to magnets and elementary magnetic properties in lower primary school children in a Piagetian perspective. Seven to eight year old children, in small groups, had at their disposal different types of magnets as well as diverse objects which could be attracted by them. The research question was whether children after a free but supported activity could discover the attractive force exerted on certain iron materials, distinguish the objects which were not thus attracted and discover the mutual forces of interaction by using the magnets. The teachers observed the activities, encouraged, questioned each child, and intervened in order to help the children to co-ordinate their activities which were becoming more and more complex. The analysis of the protocols gave us results which seem to lead to positive answers.
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