Desarrollo de las estructuras cognitivas del alumnado sobre el aire mediante actividades de investigación

This study aims to evaluate the development of the cognitive structures of 4th grade students as a result of the use of inquiry activities in the sequence of lessons about the concept of air. The study was performed with a total of 71 students, aged from eight to ten years old. The data was collected through a Word Association Test (WAT) presented to students at two different moments, before and after the sequence of classes. The results reveal that the students' cognitive structures changed as a result of instruction. Specifically, it has been shown that, as a result of class sequence, the weakest associations between the stimulus words in the pretest appear in the posttest in a higher level of strength. The analysis of the sentences written by the students, that allows the disclosure of the nature of the associations, shows that they were more appropriated regarding the theme. This is indicative of a reorganization and development of the students' cognitive structures, as a result of the use of inquiry activities about the de concept of air.