From Macroscopic to Microscopic Vision for the Acquisition of the Concept of Living Being by Primary School Children

Abstract

This paper presents research that aims at using electronic sensors to improve sensory exploration activities of 7 and 8 years old children, this way fostering to enhance children’s awareness, exploration and understanding of the living being concept, namely microscopic biodiversity. The context of this research is a PhD project that studies living being concept, using sensors in experimental activities. A case study was developed, in a Portuguese primary school. A set of experimental activities were planned and mediated by the researcher, also responsible for the participants’ observation. Photos, audio recordings and the students’ registers were collected. Data was processed using content analysis. Therefore, the developed research illustrates the role that sensors can play in developing fundamental knowledge, and competences, bridging the gulf between concrete and abstract thinking. Through teacher mediation, digital microscopic scaffold the abstract observation of the unobservable.