Development of Activities in Science Club for Young Scientists at Primary School Level

Abstract

The objectives of the research are (1) to develop Science club activities for the young students in Primary school and (2) to study of science club activities for the young students in the Primary school on scientific mind, scientific knowledge and scientific process skills. Two groups of samples were used, group 1 consisted of the experts group on learning management of science, the teachers who have managed the activity for the young scientists and the teachers who were at primary level. Group 2 consisted of students who participated in activity of the young scientist club at primary level (Grade 4 to 6). The students from group 2 were purposively taken from three schools. These are (1) Wachirawit Chiang Mai Changkhlan School, Chiangmai Province, (2) Pang Makat Wittaya School, Chiangrai Province and (3) Tha Khlong 1 Municipality School, Pathum Thani Province. The tools employed in this study are: (1) expert’s opinion questionnaire, (2) quality evaluation form on the activities manual for the young scientists clubs, (3) Science club activities for the young students in Primary school, (4) guidebook for Science club activities for the young students in Primary school, (5) evaluation form on scientific mind, (6) evaluation form on the scientific knowledge, and (7) evaluation form on the scientific process skills. This quantitative data were analysed by using descriptive statistics which are Means and Standard Deviation (SD).

The research findings reveal that 1) The development science club activities for the young students in Primary school through the supervision of the experts. It results in two types of activities; five clubs of Biological type and six clubs of physical type. All activities have the appropriateness in a High level, an average range is between 3.29 to 4.57 and there is the feasibility of the activity in a High and Highest level, an average range is between 3.86 to 4.71. The quality of the Science club activities for the young students in Primary school is very high. ( = 4.42, SD = 0.53) 2) After managing of young scientist club at the primary level, it reveals that the scientific mind of the students is in a Value level and Higher than those before participating in the club activity in all activities. ( = 3.44, SD = 0.83). The scientific knowledge of 76.70 percent of the students reaches the score of ≥ 70% with the scores with a percentage point between 66.67 and 85.71. The skills on the scientific process of the students are higher than those before they participated in the activity in all club activities. In overall, skill on the scientific process is in a Medium level. ( = 3.49, SD=1.03)