SOLAR SYSTEM: MENTAL MODELS FROM THE READING OF A CHILD'S BOOK

Abstract

The models of the Solar System that students bring to mind are incomplete and unique to each individual. Numerous investigations try to identify and categorize them showing their sensory, cultural, and/or school origin. The objective of this work is to present the Mental Models (MMs) about the Solar System developed by 23 students of the 7th grade of Junior High School of a municipal public school. The methodology used was conversation circles and pictorial representations of the students before and after reading the children's book "The Solar System in Professor Zulema's Class". From the information obtained before and after, a chart of models was built that vary according to some peculiarities; some simpler and some more complex. It was found that, after reading, there were some changes in the way students think about the composition of the Solar System and the order of the planets. The results show that the use of the book can influence the re-elaboration of the MMs, offering elements (visual and written) that collaborated in this construction, but that cannot be considered as the only source for learning.