A STUDY REGARDING YOUNG CHILDREN'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLANT WORLD THROUGH THEIR DRAWINGS

This study analyses the understanding that a sample of 251 children at 2nd level of Preschool Education and at the 1st course of Primary Education express on the issue of plant life. The research is based on children's depictions of flora. In particular, the study examines the pictorial elements deployed by the children when grappling with the task of expressing their understanding of plants, along with the analysis of the colours used and the coloured area. The data is broken down according to the educational level and gender of the children. Moreover, pictorial content is analysed and also the type and painted area in connection with the aforementioned variables. The conclusions indicate significant differences between the pictures drawn by children in different educational levels but little differences turn out to be relevant when it comes to considering the sex variable. The data presented is discussed in the light of the previous research on the issue of young children's understanding on natural phenomena based on the illustrations that they carry out.