This study is intended to investigate the effects of mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects on young children mathematical abilities and eco-friendly attitudes. To that end, the following questions are raised.
Study questions
1....
This study is intended to investigate the effects of mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects on young children mathematical abilities and eco-friendly attitudes. To that end, the following questions are raised.
Study questions
1. How do mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects influence young children mathematical abilities?
2. How do mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects influence young children' eco-friendly activities?
48 young children attending the five-year-old classes of A and B kindergartens (24 each) in In - cheon were included as subjects in this study. A preliminary test, an experimental treatment and a post-test were conducted to determine the differences between groups. The preliminary test identified the homogeneity in mean months of age between the experimental and control groups, whereas there was no homogeneity between the groups in terms of subjects' mathematical abilities and eco-friendly attitudes.
The experiment was performed for 8 weeks from May 11 to July 3, 2015. The mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects were applied to the experimental group, whilst the mathematical activities using natural objects were applied to the control group.
The stories used in this study were created based on literature review and concerned experiences in life. The content of early childhood storytelling program developed by the Seoul Early Childhood Education and Development Institute(2013) was reflected in the stories about experiences in life. The stories created for this study were reviewed by an expert who graduated from a Ph. D. course in early childhood education, worked in the field of early childhood education for more than two years, and taught early childhood math education for over two years at a university. The stories were modified and supplemented in a way that mathematical components were evenly distributed and exploration into natural objects was fully included. In addition to stories involving mathematical concepts and exploration into natural objects, mathematical questions were included in each content for the subjects to solve.
To test the subjects' mathematical abilities, Whang H.I. and Choi Hye Jin's ‘Early Childhood Picture Math Test’ was used. Pictures were included in this battery of questions. Subjects listened to the administrator's description and responded by speaking or pointing out their answers. A total of 60 questions were divided into four domains, i.e. algebra, numbers and operation, space and shapes and measurement, with 1 point allotted to each question. 0 point was allotted to a wrong answer or a non-response.
To test the eco-friendly attitudes, an eco-friendly attitude test battery based on the CATES-PV developed by Musser & Diamomd(1999), adapted and translated by Heo Y.J. and partially reinforced by Soh G.H. (2007) was used. The battery consists of four items, i.e. interest in and care of animals and plants, a sense of respecting life, preference for natural environment and conservation of nature, with 22 picture sub-items. In each situation presented in the picture, the subjects listened to two stories about positive and negative attitudes and chose one that was similar to what they thought. When a subject selected a picture, 3 different circular cards were presented to indicate the extent to which the chosen picture was close to what young children thought. When young children agreed on the statement of a question, they chose a large circle. Medium and small circles indicated they agreed on given statements to medium and small extents, respectively. Young childrens who showed very eco-friendly attitudes scored 6 points, whereas those who showed very eco-unfriendly attitudes scored 1 point. Large, medium and small circles chosen by those who showed eco-friendly attitudes were given 6, 5 and 4 points, respectively. Large, medium and small circles chosen by those who showed eco-unfriendly attitudes were given 1, 2 and 3 points, respectively. For the empirical analysis of the collected data in this study, analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the post-test differences after the pre-test state was controlled.
In brief, the present analysis highlighted the following findings.
First, the mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects helped improve the young children mathematical abilities. Concerning the post-test difference after controlling the pre-test state of the experimental group that participated in the mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects, three domains, i.e. algebra, numbers and operation and space and shapes, showed higher mean scores than those of the control group, which were statistically significant. The measurement domain did not show any significant difference.
Second, the mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects helped improve young children eco-friendly attitudes. Concerning the post-test difference after controlling the pre-test state of those young children in the experimental group that underwent the mathematical storytelling activities using natural objects, two domains, i.e. preference for natural environment and conservation of nature, showed higher mean scores than those of the control group, which were statistically significant. The other two domains, i.e. interest in and care of animals and plants and a sense of respect for life, did not show significant differences.