JAPANESE PRESCHOOLERS UNDERSTANDING OF BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS RELATED TOPROCEDURES FOR ANIMAL CARE

This study examined whether voluntary participation in animal care act ivities in school was associated with 6-year-old children's (N = 41) u nderstanding of animal care procedures. Children who often participate d in such activities had better understanding of animal care procedure s, based on physical characteristics specific to target animals. But l evels of participation were not associated with understanding of proce dures which are common to both animals and humans. The results of this study suggest that voluntary participation in animal care activities, reflection on animal care procedures, and other factors all are relat ed to young children's understanding of animal care procedures at scho ol.