International journal of science education
By Vosniadoua, Stella and Skopelitic, Irini
“Is it the Earth that turns or the Sun that goes behind the mountains? Students’ misconceptions about the day/night cycle after reading a science text”
Publisher: Routledg
2011
Is it the Earth that turns or the Sun that goes behind the mountains? Students’ misconceptions about the day/night cycle after reading a science text
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Interview
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: 3rd-5th grade — under 10-11 years
- The sun goes to the other side of the Earth.
- The night turns slowly on our side, and it gets dark.
- The sun and the moon play no role in the day/night cycle.
- One side of the earth is turned towards the Sun.
- When it gets dark, then the sun goes behind the mountains.
- The sun (and the moon) revolve(s) around the Earth.
- The earth and the sun move (and sometimes the moon also moves).