Fifth grade science students’ modelling performance when using a particle model of matter to explain different phenomena connected to phase transitions

Abstract

Models and modelling are key features in science. A particle model of matter is a basic model to explain the properties of substances and phase transitions. This study aims to gain insight into the modelling skills of 5th grade students who had been explicitly taught about models and a particle model of matter. The students’ ability to transfer their understanding of the particle model of matter to new contexts was studied, to see if prior modelling knowledge was transferable. The results showed that the students had an increase in sophistication level in their models, understood what needed to be included in a drawn model, and were also able to transfer some knowledge to a new context. This highlights how working with models and modelling helps students understand which explanatory entities are important when creating models in scientific teaching.