Exploring the Rich Metaphorical Representations of Basic Science Concept Among Gifted Student

This study explores the metaphorical perceptions of gifted students towards basic science concepts. A total of 210 gifted students participated in the study, which utilized a phenomenology design to reveal the metaphors used by students to describe the concepts of 'universe, living thing, matter, light, sound, electricity and environment'. A metaphor data collection form was used as the data collection tool. The results of the descriptive analysis showed that the most frequent metaphors used by gifted students included 'infinity' for the concept of 'Universe', 'pen' for the concept of 'Living things', 'human' for the concept of 'Matter', 'sun' for the concept of 'Light', 'wave' for the concept of 'Sound', 'water' for the concept of 'Electricity', and 'home' for the concept of 'Environment'. Overall, the study highlights the broad level of thought among gifted students when it comes to conceptualizing basic science concepts through metaphorical thinking. The findings of this study have important implications for science education and instruction, particularly in terms of promoting more creative and imaginative approaches to teaching and learning science.