THE IMPACT OF A SCIENCE DEMONSTRATION ON CHILDRENS UNDERSTANDINGS OF AIR-PRESSURE

Constructivist theory guided our investigation of the impact of a scie ntific demonstration on children's understandings of air pressure. Pri mary data sources included children's written and oral interview respo nses. For one-third of the children, the demonstration reinforced prev ious understandings. These children appeared to utilize their prior kn owledge and experiences to construct the purpose and meaning of the de monstration. Therefore, these children's understandings were not suffi ciently challenged by observing the demonstration or the social intera ctions that occurred. Recommendations for using demonstrations to prom ote children's scientific understandings are presented herein.