Abstract:

This study was conducted for the purpose of determining the impact of science fairs on the 6th grade students’ interest levels toward science subjects. The study has a quasi-experimental method and an experimental design with pretest-posttest control group. The research was carried out with 6th grade students in a state secondary school in Ankara in the 2015 year and lasted for 15 weeks. “Interest Scale About Science Topic” which was developed by Laçin Şimşek & Nuhoğlu (2009) was used as data collection tool. The reliability coefficient of the scale which is used for pre-test, post-test and follow-up test was determined as 0.85. Data were analyzed by Independent Samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA for Repeated Measures. The experimental process step of the study was performed by the same science teacher in both the control and the experimental group in science course. In the control group, education was applied according to the Science Course Curriculum and no experimental procedure was performed. In the experimental group, a similar education was applied as in the control group and preparation activities of science fair were held in courses and outside of courses every week. At the end of the science fair preparation of 15 weeks, the science fair was opened and students presented science fair activities to visitors for two days. In the study, it was determined that there was a significant increase in the interest toward science subjects scores of students in the experimental group who participated in the science fair and this increase in the interest scores were preserved twelve weeks after the end of the study.

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