Alternative Conceptions Concerning the Earth's Interior Exhibited by Honduran Students

ABSTRACT

Although multiple studies of misconceptions in Earth science have been completed using samples of North American and European students and teachers, little research has been conducted on alternative Earth science conceptions in developing countries. The current study was conducted in 5th- and 6th-grade classrooms in eastern Honduras, Central America. The goal of the study was to gather data documenting Honduran students' conceptions of the Earth's interior. This qualitative study used participant-generated drawings and interviews to access students' conceptions of the Earth's interior. Results suggest that Honduran students, ages 9–14 y, express varying levels of understanding regarding this science concept. Many exhibit alternative conceptions, including nonconcentric layers in the Earth; the presence of physical objects, such as houses, inside the Earth; and the existence of mythical creatures within the Earth. This study provides data relevant to geoscience education in Honduras, has implications for geoscience education in tectonically active regions where Earth science is not a major part of the curriculum, and offers suggestions for teaching abstract Earth science concepts to concrete learners. The study also provides information for educators that teach students who are recent immigrants from Honduras and for those who teach students of limited language and/or reading proficiency.

Key words::

• Earth's interior
• alternative conceptions
• English language learners

FIGURE 1: Examples of student drawings from each of the five Levels. (a)–(c) Level 1. (d) Level 2. (e) Level 3. (f) Level 4. (g) Level 5.

TABLE I: List of Earth science–like activities in Honduran Primary Curriculum by grade level.

TABLE II: Student demographic data by percentage of participants (N = 105).

TABLE III: Characteristics of student drawings with number of students in each category.

TABLE 4: Frequent object or themes displayed in student drawings.

Notes

¹  All names of schools and individuals are pseudonyms.