Educational Resources Information Center
By Schoon, Kenneth J.
“Misconceptions in the Earth Sciences: A Cross-Age Study”
Publisher:
1998-25
Misconceptions in the Earth Sciences: A Cross-Age Study
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Survey
Number of subjects, range: Medium — 11-30
Grade and age of subjects: 3rd-5th grade — 10-11 years, 6th-8th grade — 12-14 years
- If a crystal can scratch glass, it is a diamond.
- We can often see planets at night but only with a telescope or a pair of binoculars.
- It is not possible that in the near future Chicago could be severely damaged by an earthquake.
- The terrible floods that occur along a river happen only when snow melts in the spring.
- The dinosaurs lived at the same time as cavemen.
- Day and night occurs because the earth goes around the sun.
- It takes one year for the moon to go around the earth.
- The moon shines because it is like star just bigger.
- Earthquakes can be accurately predicted by observing the behavior of wild animals.
- We can predict very cold winters by looking at the thickness of fur on some animals in the fall takes one day for the moon to go around the earth.
- The moon shines because it makes light like the sun.
- Every night planets are in the same place in the sky.
- Day and night occur because the sun goes around the earth.