A Study Regarding the Representation of the Sun in Young Children’s Spontaneous Drawings

José Domingo Villarroel and Xabier Villanueva
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José Domingo Villarroel: Faculty of Education Bilbao, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
Xabier Villanueva: Faculty of Education Bilbao, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain

Social Sciences, 2017, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Drawing has historically been the preeminent way of portraying the observations of the sun. The study of the early stages of the development of astronomical thought and the examination of human graphic expression indicate this. With that in mind, it is interesting to note that young children very frequently draw the sun in their spontaneous depictions and, also, that there are preliminary indications that this fact might be related to their conceptual development. This study examines 279 pictures that children aged 4 to 8 spontaneously depicted, paying particular attention to their solar representations and the relationship that they have with other pictorial elements. The data is also related to children’s understanding of the inanimate nature of the sun. The results lend weight to the assumption that children do not draw the sun without intent and allow for adding fresh data to the growing body of research showing the importance of considering young children’s graphical expression when it comes to gaining insight into their understanding regarding natural phenomena.

Keywords: early education; astronomical thinking; natural phenomena; children’s drawings; science education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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