Abstract:

The aim of this study is twofold. The first one is to practice the teaching activities designed to make use of museums and historical places within the context of grade seven social studies course. The second one is to reveal how and in which ways these activities influence students’ perceptions of social studies. Designed as an action research, the current study employs 36 grade seven students (20 girls and 16 boys) attending to a public secondary school located in the district of Yunusemre attached to Manisa province as its study group. In order to carry out all phases of the proposed action research effectively, museums and historic places located in the immediate environment of the school were chosen. Manisa Museum, Muradiye Mosque, Museum of the History of Medicine, Historical Kula Houses, the Ancient City of Sardis, Sultaniye Complex, Keskinoğlu’s Museum of Classical Vehicles, Manisa Grand Mosque, and Ravika Village Museum were included in the scope of the research. In total, 34 activities were prepared and implemented. The data obtained through observation and interviews was analyzed thematically, while the written records of students’ works was subjected to content analysis. The results show that the implementation of research activities in museums and historical places provoked and changed students’ perceptions of history. Their perceptions of history after the study include and favor local history and cultural elements. 

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