FACTORS AFFECTING SRI LANKAN CHILDREN’S CONCEPTION OF CONSERVATION AND SPACE

Abstract

Conservation and Space are very important concepts for children’s life. These concepts are helping the children learn mathematics and science subjects later. Jean Piaget also given more priority to these concepts in his study. The students’ performance in mathematics and science are very low in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study identified factors affected to Children conception of Conservation and Space. The researchers selected 87 children for this study as sample from three different sectors (urban, rural and estates). The ultimate sampling units of the study selected were 75 primary school children between the ages of 5-10 years. They represented the age ranges: 5-6, 6-7, 7-8, 8-9 and 9-10 years. The clinical methods used to identify their conception about Conservation and Space. Then, interview with parents and observation of children’ home environment were used to identify the factors affect children’s conception of conservation and space. From the data collected on child’s home and school environment the following nine variables were tested against the total score children had obtained for conservation and spatial tasks. Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric Analysis of Variance test used to identify the factors. ‘Child has siblings’, ‘Mother’s education level’ and ‘Family type’ (extended or nuclear) have an effect upon the development of conservation abilities in Sri Lankan children. ‘Child has siblings’ ‘Mother’s education level’, ‘Family type’ (extended or nuclear) and ‘Teachers' experience’ have an effect upon the development of spatial abilities in Sri Lankan children.