Satisfaction of Primary School Students in Observation Activities

This interpretive study explores the level of satisfaction of primary school students in relation to an observation activity of environmental components (natural plant materials and their representations in photographs and drawings), conducted in a school setting. The research employed a quantitative approach, applying a quasi-experimental research design. A specific questionnaire, composed of ten items, was developed to evaluate different dimensions of satisfaction with the learning activity. Participants were 153 second-grade students (aged 8-9), equally distributed into three experimental groups. Each student was tasked with observing a coniferous tree (spruce), using different materials: natural plant materials (experimental group A), photographs (experimental group B), and drawings of the plant (experimental group C). Results indicate that the use of natural plant materials generated the highest level of satisfaction, highlighting their attractiveness and clarity, as well as increased personal involvement from the students. Additionally, activities based on photographs and drawings were appreciated, but recorded lower scores and a greater variation in students' perceptions, suggesting that these types of materials may require additional adaptations to improve clarity and attractiveness. The study underscores the importance of using natural materials in observation activities of environmental components, as these have a significant impact on student engagement and perception of the activity's usefulness. It also highlights the need to optimize static representations to stimulate students' interest and understanding in the learning process.