Energy transformations in primary school: outcomes from a research based experimentation

Energy Transformations in Primary School: Outcomes from a

Research Based Experimentation of an Educational Proposal

Marisa Michelini, 58&4+"4'9:#"!0(-';,4,!."8'2-+%'<'=> ?'<'*,"0(-'()'58&4+"4'!-:'@!%8,/!0"4'<' 2-+3,.4+%&'()'2:+-,1'7%!$&

!"#$%&#

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`C'YZZM1'S!E4'=C'@C'!-:'T+$V,.%'aC'RC'YZOb1' c+",-0-+1'@C'!-:'@!&,.1'@C'KLLLPC'D8,'%(A+"'()'%8,',-,.6&'8!4'V,,-',F%,-4+3,$&':+4"#44,:'+-'$+%,.!%#.,'!-:' %8,.,)(.,'!'V+6':,!$'()'!""#.!%,'4#.3,&4')("#4,:'(-'%8,'A.(V$,/4'()'$,!.-+-6'!.,'!3!+$!V$,'JS!E4'=C'@C' YZObU'd.((H1'?C'aC'YZOeU'`+"8($$4'TC'!-:']6V(.-1'aC'YZZbU'5)#-:%'NC'!-:'=#+%';C'YZZO1' ,&-/!-';C'5C1'YZeb1' @"=,./(E1'XC'>C'KLLY1'*($(/(-1'aC'YZOb1'D.#/A,.';C'YZZb1'>!..1'@C'YZOOP1'!-:'4,3,.!$'%,4%,:'%,!"8+-6' A.(A(4!$41' J !$H1' TC' N,../!--1' C1' !-:' *"8/+:1' YZOb1' `#I,$:' YZee1' @"=,./(E1' XC>C' YZZe1' D.#/A,.' ;C' YZZL1'5!A!:(#.+4'`C1'>(-4%!-0-(#1'>5C1'D8,(:(.!'R&.!%4+1'DC1'KLLOP1'8+68$+680-6'4A,"+^"'!AA.(!"8,4'!-:' A,.4A,"03,4C' @(.,(3,.1' %8,.,' +4' !' B+:,' .!-6,' ()' .,3+,B4' J@+$$!.' ;C1' KLLM1' >(4%!4P' #-:,.$+-+-6' %8,' )!"%' %8!%'%8,.,'+4'-('A.,4,-%',Q,"03,'4($#0(-'%('%8,',:#"!0(-!$'A.(V$,/1'!%'!-&'$,3,$4C'D8+4'B(.H'+4'V!4,:' (-'N@*'%,!"8+-6'A.(A(4!$'(-'9-,.6&'B8+"8'!+/4'!%'+:,-0)&+-6'%8,'H-(B$,:6,'()'%8,':+Q,.,-%'f%&A,4g'()' 9-,.6&'JH+-,0"',-,.6&1'A(%,-0!$'6.!3+%!0(-!$'!-:',$!40"',-,.6&1'+-%,.-!$'!-:'V.+68%',-,.6&P'4%!.0-6').(/' !$$'%8(4,'f)(./4g'"$(4,.'%('%8,'"8+$:.,-h4'"#$%#.!$'V!"H6.(#-:'+-'(.:,.'%(')(#-:'%8,'"(-",A%'()'9-,.6&'!4'!' 4%!%,'()'A.(A,.%&'()'%8,'4&4%,/41'V&'4%.!%,6+,4'()'!"03,'%,!"8+-6'!-:'A!.0"#$!.$&'()'7dXC'D8+4'.,A(.%'.,),.4' %('!'.,4,!."8'"!..+,:'(#%'V&'!$$'/&'^-:+-64'+-'!'A.+/!.&'4"8(($'()'5,.#6+!'J7%!$&PC'D8,''.,4,!."8'\#,40(-4' ()'%8+4',FA,.+/,-%!0(-'!.,['N(B':(,4'%8,'6$(V!$'+:,!'!-:'%8,'/,!-+-6'!44+6-,:'%('!-&'"(//(-'4,-4,' ,FA.,44+(-1' !4' f%(' "(-4,.3,g1' f%(' $(4,g1' f%(' A.(:#",g' 3,.V41' "8!-6,' !G,.' %8,' A!%8i' 7-' B8+"8' B!&4' :(' 4%#:,-%4'%!H,'8($:'()'%8,'4A,"+^"'$!-6#!6,'()',-,.6&i'S8!%'!.,'%8,'%&A,4'()'"(-",A%#!$':+I"#$0,4'V&'%8,' "8+$:.,-')(.'%8,':,4".+A0(-'()'!"03+0,4i

-.#/)*"

D8,',FA,.+/,-%!0(-'8!4'V,,-'"!..+,:'(#%'+-'!'W%8_{'$,3,$'"$!44'()'Kb'O<&,!.<($:'"8+$:.,-'()'/+::$,'!V+$+%&'}

0/.1$%#,)(%2.1)31#/.1%&#,4,#,."5 ! "##$%&'$%()*%'+(,-.#'&/%/&0*/12'DB(':+Q,.,-%'%&A,4'()')((:'B+%8':+Q,.,-%',-,.6&'"(-%,-%'8!3,'V,,-' "8(4,-['"8("($!%,'JB+%8'!'8+68',-,.6&'"(-%,-%P'!-:'4!$!:'JB+%8'!'$(B,.',-,.6&'"(-%,-%P['B8+"8'()'%8,'%B(' )((:4'8!4'!'6.,!%,.',-,.6&i'D8,'-#%.+0(-!$'$!V,$',FA.,44,4'%8,',-,.6&'"(-%,-%'()'%8,')((:'+-'R"!$'!-:' a(#$,1'B8!%'+4'%8,'"(--,"0(-i 3!%4-'*.5%&'$%0,-6)(%*'*,67['%8,'"8+$:.,-'4,%'+-'/(0(-'%8,'B8,,$'()'!-'V+"&"$,['B8,.,':(,4',-,.6&'()' (#.'V(:&'6(i1'B,'.,A,!0-6'%8,',FA,.+/,-%'"(--,"0-6'%8,':&-!/(C'D8,'"8+$:.,-'-(0",'%8!%'!'6.,!%,.' 4%.,-6%8'()'f+-%,.-!$'8#/!-',-,.6&'f'+4'-,,:,:'%('/!H,'%8,'V+H,'.(%!%,'!%'%8,'4!/,'4A,,:'!4'V,)(.,'!-:' %('$+68%'%8,':&-!/('!%'%8,'4!/,'0/,C'S8!%'H+-:4'()'%.!-4)(./!0(-'B,'(V4,.3,i' 8!%9'*,67%(#%:&//%;<#(*'.&/%6,&=-(&.#'&/!2'B,'+:,-0)&'+%'!4',-,.6&'()'!'V(:&'A$!",:'%('!'",.%!+-'8,+68%' .,$!03,'%('%8,'%!V$,'!-:'+%'+4'"!$$,:['f,-,.6&'%(')!$$gC'D8,'f,-,.6&'%(')!$$g'()'B!%,.'+4'%.!-4)(./,:'+-%('H+-,0"' ,-,.6&'!-:'%8,-'+-'.(%!0(-!$'H+-,0"4'()'%8,'%#.V+-,'A!::$,C >!%"#,?&/-@&.#'%#:%()*%<#(*'.&/%6,&=-(&.#'&/%*'*,67['V!$$4'()':+Q,.,-%'4+k,4''!.,':.(AA,:'+-'!'V(F')#$$'()' l(#.').(/':+Q,.,-%'8,+68%4'(V4,.3+-6'%8,':,A%8'()'".!%,.4C'D8,'A(%,-0!$'6.!3+%!0(-!$',-,.6&'+4')(./!$+k,:' !4'B,+68%')(.'8,+68%C A! 9/&1.5%9'*,67[''!'/!.V$,'+4'%8.(B-'#A'V&'!'4A,!.<4A.+-6'!%'%8,'8,+68%'%8,',FA,.+/,-%,.'8!:'%!H,-'+%'%(' !-:',3,-'/(.,'8+68,.C'D8,'f,-,.6&'()'%8,'4A.+-6g'+4'!4'6.,!%,.'!4'/#"8'%8,'4A.+-6'+4'"(/A.,44,:C B!% C'(*,'&/% *'*,67% #:% ()*% 0#$-*12% !' /!.V$,' +4' $,G' %#/V$+-6' (-' %8,' l((.C' D8,' /!.V$,' !%' !' ",.%!+-' A(+-%' 4%(A4['B8,.,'8!4'%8,'H+-,0"',-,.6&'()'%8,'/!.V$,'6(-,i'S,'/(:,$'4(/,'5$!&<=(8'!-:'B,'(V4,.3,'%8!%' +%'"8!-6,4'48!A,'!-:'+%'8,!%4'#AC'D8,'+-%,.-!$',-,.6&'()'%8,'V(:+,4'+-'"(--,"0(-'B+%8'%8,+.'%,/A,.!%#.,' !-:'%8,+.'4%.#"%#.,'+4'8,.,'+:,-0^,:C'' D!%9/&0#,&.#'%#:%()*%-'(*,'&/%*'*,67[''D8.,,'%.!-4A!.,-%'$+E$,'V!$$4'()'%8,'4!/,':+/,-4+(-4'!.,'$,%')!$$' ).(/'%8,'4!/,'+-"$+-,:'A$!-,['%8,'^.4%'(-,'+4'"(/A$,%,$&',/A%&1'%8,'4,"(-:'(-,'+4'^$$,:'#A'B+%8'l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b'/(-%84').(/'%8,'!AA$+"!0(-'()'%8,'%,4%'(#%'J%,4%<5(4%PC' 6%#%1%(*17."+2#"

7.3.$.(&." d,44(-1'2C1'JKLYYP1'X!'.+",."!'+-':+:!r"!':,$$!'^4+"!['%,/+','A.(V$,/+1'(-$+-,[' !"#$!%#$#!%&'()*'%#+,#-&-%'./00'-("12%,#%'3(44,#!55& d.((H1'?CaC1'JYZOeP'>8+$:.,-h4'2-:,.4%!-:+-6'()'7:,!4'!V(#%'9-,.6&['?';,3+,B'()'%8,'X+%,.!%#., in Driver R. 678%""1-79!7:()4;7<#(-=>781?(-4@7A#%B(-4%&>7,$7C(()4@7C(()4@755!7DDEFG! >!..1'@C'!-:'R+.HB((:1'cC'JYZOOP'D,!"8+-6'!-:'$,!.-+-6'!V(#%',-,.6&'+-'`,B'p,!$!-:'4,"(-:!.&'4"8(($' j#-+(.'4"+,-",'"$!44.((/4C'Phys. Educ. 23, 86-91. =.+3,.1';C1'S!..+-6%(-1'XC'JYZOMPC'*%#:,-%4h'#4,'()'%8,'A.+-"+A$,'()',-,.6&'"(-4,.3!0(-'+-'A.(V$,/'4+%#!< 0(-4C'HI>4%+47<)*+1J,#@7./@70K0L0KM!

,&-/!-1';C'JYZebPC'D8,' ,&-/!-'X,"%#.,4'(-'58&4+"4C'Book 1. New York: Addison-Wesley.

N,.(-'5C1'@+"8,$+-+'@C'!-:'*%,)!-,$'?C'JKLLOP'D,!"8+-6'q'$,!.-+-6'%8,'"(-",A%'()',-,.6&'+-'A.+/!.&'4"8(($,

%#7N,#4&1#J#,*7N!@7HI>4%+47N*--%+*"*O7P(4%=#!

N(V4(-'?C'JKLLWP'9-,.6&' $(B'=+!6.!/4')(.'D,!"8+-6'58&4+"4'>(-",A%41'The Physics Teacher, 42, pp.

113-00K

R!A,.1'SC'!-:'T(,:8!.%1'@C'JKLLKPC's (./4'()',-,.6&h1'!-'+-%,./,:+!.&'$!-6#!6,'(-'%8,'.(!:'%('%8,./(:&< -!/+"4i7H1-&7Q!7Q#&(-#1J,#1"7R,*-#1"7,$7S+%(#+(7<)*+1J,#@7.F7:0;@7T0EUM!7H1-&7QQ!7Q#&(-#1J,#1"7R,*-#1"7

,$7S+%(#+(7<)*+1J,#@7.F7:.;@00UE0DT!

@"=,./(E1'XC>C'YZZeC'58&4+"4'V&'+-\#+.&. New York: Wiley.

@"=,./(E1'XC>C'JKLLYP'],.4%,:'@,:!$'X,"%#.,'HI>4%+47<)*+1J,#79(4(1-+IVWI(7X(>7&,7S&*)(#&7C(1-#%#=, ?/,.+"!-'?44("+!0(-'()'58&4+"4'D,!"8,.41'eZ'JYYP @+"8,$+-+1'@C1J'KLLWP'Xh,:#"!k+(-,'4"+,-0^"!'-,$'.!""(.:('%,..+%(.+(n#-+3,.4+%t'!'2:+-,1'FORUM Editrice, Udine. @+"8,$+-+'@C1'9:#"!k+(-,'*"+,-0^"!',:'!AA.(""+':+'.+",."!'+-':+:!r"!':,$$!'^4+"!1'YZB%&[74(O%#1-%1"%@74(O-%#1-%,7)%74&*)%7\N*"&*-17S+%(#J]+17(79%+(-+17P%)1Z+1^@79(==%,7<O%"%1@7UE0/7_(``-1%,7.//K! @+$$!.1';C'JKLLLP'9-,.6&C'Q#7P!7S1#=7:<)!;@7W(1+I%#=74(+,#)1->75I>4%+47:55!70LFD;!7C,#),#a7R,I#78*--1>! `+"8($$41'TC1'q']6V(.-1'aC'JYZZbP'=+/,-4+(-4'()'"8+$:.,-h4'"(-",A0(-4'()',-,.6&C'Q#&(-#1J,#1"@7QRS<@70G:0;@7 KDET0 5)#-:%1'NC'q'=#+%1';CJYZZOP1'd+V$+(6.!A8&'()'*%#:,-%4h'?$%,.-!03,' .!/,B(.H4'+-'*"+,-",'9:#"!0(-1'IPN, Kiel, Germany.

5.+:,!#F1'`C'JYZZMP1'=+Q,.,-%'?AA.(!"8,4'%('%8,'D,!"8+-6'()'%8,'9-,.6&'>(-",A%1'School Science Review

KK@7FUEGK!

*($(/(-1' aC' JYZObP' @,44&1' "(-%.!:+"%(.&' !-:' (V40-!%,$&' A,.4+4%,-%[' !' 4%#:&' (-' "8+$:.,-h4' (#%()<4"8(($' +:,!4'!V(#%',-,.6&. School Science Review, 65, 225–229.

D.#/A,.1';C'JYZZLP1'd,+-6'>(-4%.#"03,['?-'?$%,.-!03,'?AA.(!"8'%('%8,'D,!"8+-6'()'%8,'9-,.6&' ''>(-",A%1'5!.%'(-,1'Q#&(-#1J,#1"7R,*-#1"7,$7S+%(#+(7<)*+1J,#70.@7DFDEDGF!

D.#/A,.1';C'JYZZbP1'>8+$:.,-h4'9-,.6&'>(-",A%41'Q#&(-#1J,#1"7R,*-#1"7,$7S+%(#+(7<)*+1J,#70G@70DUE0FT! c+",-0-+'@C1'@C'@!&,.1'=+:!r"!':,$$!'^4+"!1'La Nuova Italia, Firenze, 2000.

S!E41'=C@C1'T+$V,.%1'aC'RC'JYZObPC'?AA.!+4+-6'%8,'#-:,.4%!-:+-6'()'4"+,-",'"(-",A%4['f9-,.6&gC'Guildford:

<)*+1J,#1"7S&*)%(4