The NRC National Science Education Standards created a curriculum for astronomy education for K-12. According to this curriculum, students in grades K-4 should obtain a geocentric perspective about objects and motions in the sky. Students in grades 5-8 should learn about the movement of the solar system from a heliocentric perspective. Students in grades 9-12 should learn about stellar evolution and the structure of the universe. (Adams, J., and T. Slater, Astronomy in the National Science Education Standards, J. Geosci. Edu., 48 (1), 39–45, 2000)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) are on the rise. Recent studies of the epidemiology of autism have shown an increased concern and awareness of the prevalence of other PDDs. However, differences in research methods and changes in definitions over time have made comparisons difficult. Recent studies have shown a prevalence rate of 6 out of 1000 for PDDs. The current estimated prevalence rate of autism is 1.3 out of 1000. (Fombonne, E., Epidemiology of autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders, J. Clin. Psych., 66 (Suppl. 10), 3–8, 2005)
Hans Asperger drew attention to individuals who exhibited the core symptoms of autism in their lives. Behavioral and neurophysiological evidence to date has shown that Asperger syndrome is a type of autism and is highly prevalent among individuals. (Frith, U., Emanuel Miller lecture: confusions and controversies about Asperger syndrome, J. Child Psychol. Psych., 45, 672-686, 2004)
Due to the underlying brain dysfunction that has been shown in increasing cases of intellectual disabilities, autism, and language disorders, pediatric neurology has become a growing area of interest. With the tremendous advancements in imaging techniques and laboratory analyses, it has become possible to detect an organic lesion in most cases. Collaboration between different disciplines is necessary for better management of individuals with intellectual disabilities. (Korkmaz, B., Pediatric Behavioral Neurology, I.U. publications publication no: 4267, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty publication no: 230, Istanbul, 2000)
To improve students’ understanding of the causes and processes of lunar phases, the lunar phases project was presented to a sample of undergraduate non-science majors enrolled in a mid-sized state university in the southeastern United States. (Meyer, A.O., M.J. Mon, and S.T. Hibbard, The lunar phases project: a mental model-based observational project for undergraduate nonscience majors, Astron. Edu. Rev., 10 (1), http://aer.aas.org/ resource/1/aerscz/v10/i1/p010203s1, 2011.)
They have expressed a vision for science education that will make scientific literacy a reality for everyone in the world. Science has been emphasized to strengthen people’s creative problem-solving, critical thinking, collaborative work, and effective use of technology. (Rollins, M.M., J.J. Dentton, and D.L. Janke, Attainment of selected earth science concepts by Texas high school seniors, J. Edu. Res., 77(2), 81-88, 1983)
They have demonstrated how scientific imagination and research capabilities can bring people together from all continents and countries around the world. While presenting this impressive result, they aim to help us understand how unifying the pursuit of understanding our universe and using space for this purpose can be. (Thompson, B.J., N. Gopalswamy, J.M. Davila, and H.J. Haubold (Eds.), Putting the “I” in IHY, XV, 371 pp., 2009)
Space weather is defined by the conditions on the Sun and solar wind, Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere. It is primarily an interdisciplinary astronomical phenomenon encompassing various fields of science such as physics, engineering, and others due to solar activity and cosmic rays. (Tulunay, Y., Space weather and Europe – an educational tool with the Sun (SWEETS), Final Report, http://cordis.europa.eu/documents/documentlibrary/126792761EN6.pdf, 2008)
This study has presented a new virtual environment using a dynamic 3-D model of the solar system. It relies on powerful scientific visualization techniques and can be used as an effective aid in astronomy education. The student “enters” a virtual model of the physical world, navigates inside it, zooms in or out as desired, and changes the point of view and perspective as the virtual world continues to “behave” and function normally. The continuous movement of the planets, day and night, seasons, eclipses, and phases are formed, which are topics that are traditionally difficult to grasp, especially at a young age. The model allows for a powerful learning experience. (Yair, Y., R. Mintz, and S. Litvak, 3D-virtual reality in science education: an implication for astronomy teaching, J. Comput. Math. Sci. Teach., 20(3), 293-305, 2001)
Individuals with special needs make progress in areas where they have deficiencies through special education they receive. Research has included musical activities in scientifically based practices as a promising approach for the education of children with special needs. Data were collected using the semi-structured interview method from parents of 20 children with special needs receiving education in special education institutions in the center of Malatya. As a result of the research, it was observed that the majority of parents expressed their opinion that the use of musical activities in special education is necessary, will have positive permanent effects on their children, especially on their socialization or communication skills, and most importantly on language development. (Pektaş Songül, Düzkantar Ayten and Yurga Cemal, Parental Views on the Use of Music in the Education of Children Receiving Special Education, İnönü University Journal of Art and Design, 6(14), 1-17. , 2016)
The aim of this research is to determine the awareness of children attending Montessori kindergarten, where cosmic education is given, and those attending state kindergarten about the concepts of Earth and geography. In line with this aim, a group of 16 children from a Montessori kindergarten providing education with the Montessori approach in the Çankaya district of Ankara and a group of 16 children from a state kindergarten providing education according to the Ministry of National Education Program in the same district were included in the study. The data of this qualitative research was obtained through interviews conducted with children. As a result of the study, it was found that children who attend Montessori kindergarten have a better scientific understanding of the shape of the Earth, the consequences of the Earth’s movement, the phases of the moon, the formation of day and night, and the formation of rain.(Yüksek Usta Semiha and Tezel Şahin Semiha, Children’s Geographic Awareness: Reflections of Montessori Education, GEFAD / GUJGEF 39(1): 1-35 (2019)
The use of music and movement in preschool education has been investigated in terms of its academic success on children compared to traditional teaching methods. An experimental method involving experimental and control groups was used to evaluate this effect. The research sample consisted of a total of 41 students attending two kindergartens at Istanbul Teacher Ibrahim Ozturk Primary School. In the research, a pre-test, education, and post-test-based control group semi-experimental design was applied. An education approach in which music and movement were used actively was implemented in the experimental group, while traditional teaching methods were used in the control group. The scores obtained by the students from the achievement test were compared using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests in SPSS 18. As a result of the research, it was determined that the success in the experimental group, where music and movement were actively used, was higher than the control group where students were passive. (Ayan Bilge Ece and Kaya Sibel, The Effect of Music and Movement on Learning in Preschool Education, Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty Volume-Number: 18-1 Year: 2016)
“I Love My Sun” is an educational project designed for elementary school children aged 4-11. It was first initiated by Prof. Dr. Y. Tulunay and his team as part of the European COST 724 project. During the project, students were asked to draw pictures related to the Sun. Afterwards, a scientist from the relevant field made a 20-minute presentation, and the students were asked to draw pictures again. These drawings were compared in terms of “before and after” comparisons. The Czech Republic version of the project was conducted in 16 classrooms in 2014, and in Spain, it was performed with 60 students. (RESULTS OF THE I LOVE MY SUN PROJECT 2014-2016, Mosna Zbysek, Macusova Eva, Kouba Daniel, Blanch Estefania, Humlova Danka)
The research was conducted to determine the predisposition of children with autism disorder to music education and their sensitivity to music. For this purpose, two autistic children, one in a private education institution and the other in a special OÇEM class, in Kırıkkale during the 2009-2010 academic year were studied. In the research, a children’s song suitable for the children’s age level, with easy lyrics and a memorable melody, was taught. Four skills from the “music skills module” in the “Performance Determination Form for Individuals with Pervasive Developmental Disorders” were used. The expected activities were evaluated by BÖP members at the end of each session. (Önal Oğuz, Music Education in Autistic Children, Kırıkkale University, Master’s Thesis, 2010)
It has been observed that the disappointment of children with special education needs is caused by their limited mobility and inability to coordinate. Research has shown that music improves the coordination ability of these individuals and even affects their hormones and body temperature. (Savan Anna, The Effect of Background Music on Learning, The Society for Research in Psychology of Music and Music Education, 27, 138-146,1999)
The aim of this research was to examine the effect of educational songs and games on students’ academic achievement and retention in the elementary school 4th grade Science class unit “Let’s Get to Know Matter”. The sample of the research consisted of 38 fourth grade students in two classes of Cumhuriyet Primary School, which is affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Bayburt city during the first semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. The Let’s Get to Know Matter Achievement Test (MTBT) was used as the data collection tool in the research. One class was randomly selected as the experimental group (n=22) and the other as the control group (n=16). While the experimental group students continued their learning with educational songs and games, the lessons were conducted according to the teaching methods and techniques prescribed in the Science course curriculum in the control group. (Gürbüz Fatih, Çeker Ezelnur, Töman Ufuk,
The Effects of Educational Song and Game Techniques on Students’ Academic Achievement and Retention, Bayburt Education Faculty Journal, 12, 24, 593-612, 2017)
This study aimed to determine the effect of using children’s songs as a support in science education for fourth-grade elementary school students. The sample of the research consisted of 40 fourth-grade students in two classes of a primary school in Turkey. The classes were assigned to experimental and control groups, where the experimental group was taught with science lessons supported by children’s songs while the control group was taught using traditional methods. The data were collected through a pre-test, post-test, and retention test. The results indicated that using children’s songs as a supporting material contributed to the students’ academic achievement in science education. The study also showed that the experimental group students maintained their knowledge retention better than the control group students. (Yangın Selami, Sarıkaya Mustafa, Bulut Sinan, Yangın Nesrin, The Effect of Children’s Songs-Supported Education on Fourth Grade Students’ Achievement in Science Lessons, International Journal of Education Sciences, 8, 44-57, 2016)
“The Effect of Music and Drama on Learning has been Researched.” (Pesen Ata, Çiftçi Yunus Emre, Middle East Journal of Education, 57-69, 2016)
I apologize for the mistake in my previous translation. Here is the corrected version: “The impact of process evaluation method usage on students’ academic achievement and retention levels in the 7th grade science course “The Solar System and Beyond: Space Puzzles” has been investigated (Aydın Süleyman, Ural Keleş Pınar and Ürün Nesrin, Turkish Journal of Educational Research, 1, 11-17, 2016).”
“It is very important to educate children about the Sun and its role. This study was conducted under the title ‘I Love My Sun’. The aim was to provide children with information about the Sun and the Sun-Earth relationship and to help them learn where they stand in this global picture. Children were asked to draw pictures and were given training, and then asked to draw pictures again. These pictures were examined. The study was conducted in Turkey, Belgium, and Serbia. (Tulunay Yurdanur, Crosby Bock Norma, Tulunay Ersin, Calders Stijn, Parnowski Aleksei, Sulic Desanka, The COST example for outreach to the general public: I love my Sun, J. Space Weather Space Climate,3, 2013)”
Academic self-efficacy perceptions of gifted and regular students were compared. In the study conducted using a screening model, 45 gifted students from Istanbul Science and Art Center, where gifted students are educated, and 77 regular students from three different schools in Istanbul were selected as the sample. The Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (Jinks & Morgan, 1999) was used as the data collection tool. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical calculations such as percentage, frequency, and t-test in the SPSS program. As a result of the research, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the academic self-efficacy perceptions of gifted and regular students. (Aksoy Özgen, Comparison of Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy of Gifted and Regular Students, Gifted Education and Creativity Journal, 1(1), 1-6)
This research aimed to determine the views of gifted students who receive education in Science and Art Centers (BILSEM) regarding science and the factors that influence these views. It provides information about students’ perceptions of science classes at school, their motivations, self-confidence in their own abilities, perceptions of science, and scientific deductions. (Keser Fatih Ferdi and Kalender Suna, Determination of Gifted Students’ Views on Science, Journal of Hasan Ali Yucel Faculty of Education, 13-1, 1, 95-105, 2016)
Accelerated education refers to subjecting students to an education program at a more advanced level than the normal education program. In this study, a literature review was conducted on acceleration. The aim of the research was to examine the studies in the literature on acceleration, which is one of the managerial strategies used in science and mathematics education for gifted individuals, and to reach a conclusion about the effectiveness of acceleration practices. The research results show that acceleration has positive effects on the education of gifted individuals and that it is necessary and beneficial to use it, especially in performance-based fields such as science and mathematics. (Kanlı Esra, Acceleration in the Education of Gifted and Talented Students, Journal of Hasan Ali Yucel Faculty of Education, 16, 85-104, 2, 2011)
This study aimed to highlight the importance of music in early childhood education, to enrich preschool programs using the effects of music on children, to determine the place of music in these programs, and to identify ways to make music more lovable in these institutions.
The study also conducted a literature review to introduce a new approach to this field, and it was found that the concept of personality development has recently started to come to the fore in child development-related publications and studies. As a result, the importance of music education in child education has been widely accepted by the music and education science communities. (Şen Yavuz, THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRESCHOOL PERIOD, Journal of Atatürk University Social Sciences Institute, 7 (1), 337-343, 2010)
Art, especially music, holds a potential that can be present in every stage of human life. It is particularly emphasized that music education in the infancy and early childhood periods, where both physical and mental development progress the fastest, can contribute to this development. In fact, there are schools in many countries around the world that start music education with the 1.5-year-old age group using Suzuki, Kodally, and Orff methods. The main goal of starting music education at an early age is not to train professional musicians, but to achieve effective and healthy development in children. A newborn baby is initially in a passive position in terms of music, but gradually becomes active. The development of the organs that provide sound helps with this. Music clearly contributes to language development, as well as social development, personality development, mental development, and emotional development. (Başer Fatma Adile, THE CONTRIBUTION OF MUSIC TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, Sakarya University Journal of Education Faculty, 0, 8, 2004)
In today’s education world, many differentiation methods are used to improve the general curriculum content. Enriched education programs are an effective differentiation method used to enable individuals to provide solutions to problems, to produce original products, and to transform knowledge into value for themselves and their environment by making the information they learn in science classes functional. This article discusses the contribution of enriched science education programs to the development of children’s creative thinking skills. (Uğur İkikat, Developing Creativity in Children with Enriched Science Education Classes, Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity, 6(1), 14-21, 2019)
Gifted and talented students have a natural interest in science as it triggers their innate curiosity and imagination. Considering their potential and special interests in science, gifted and talented students are considered as primary individuals who will adopt science as a lifestyle and provide creative contributions to science. In this context, the aim of this study is to demonstrate why differentiated instruction in science education is necessary for gifted and talented students who have a natural curiosity and interest in science education. (Erdoğan Sezen Camcı, The Necessity of Differentiation in Science Education for Gifted and Talented Students, Journal of Young Scientist Education and Giftedness, 2, 2, 1-10, 2014)
The aim of this study is to interpret the relationship between intelligence and artistic creativity through gifted and normal intelligence level children aged 8-10, and observe the effect of choral music on this relationship. Within this framework, it is intended to question the place of artistic creativity in the distinction of gifted children based on the data obtained, criticize the perception of single type intelligence (cognitive intelligence) in the selection of gifted children in our country, and emphasize the importance of multiple intelligence method in education. (Esra Kurt, Examining the Effect of Music on the Relationship between Artistic Creativity and Intelligence, Department of Fine Arts Education, Marmara University, Master’s Thesis, 2019)
http://ilovemysun.net/ (18.09.2021)
The International Year of Geophysics provided a broad and all-encompassing effort to elevate the prominence of geophysics. Tremendous knowledge was gained in space physics, the connection between the Earth and the Sun, planetary science, and the heliosphere. Now, 50 years later, the International Heliophysical Year of 2007 offers a unique opportunity to further develop our global knowledge of the heliosphere through the interstellar medium and to establish connections between planetary bodies. This effort is an international study that increases public awareness about space physics. (J.M. Davila, N. Gopalswamy, and B.J. Thompson, Preparing for the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA).