Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.33128/ag.79.1-2.3

HOW MUCH DO STUDENTS IN JUNIOR GRADES OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ZAGREB KNOW ABOUT DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Ivana Sever ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marina Vranić ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Krešimir Bošnjak ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivana Čačić ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Martina Protulipac ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mirjana Klepac ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

The previous research proved the positive effect of animals on the human life quality. It has been established that animals positively affect the mental and physical health, encourage people to social and physical activity and could be used for therapeutic purposes. The objectives of this study were to determine: (i) the knowledge of lower grade school children of domestic animals, (ii) the differences between girls and boys in the knowledge of domestic animals, (III) the differences among the second, third and fourth grade children in the knowledge of domestic animals, (IV) the teachers' opinion on the children’s knowledge of domestic animals. The research was conducted at the Grassland Research Centre at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb interviewing 528 lower grade children (from 2nd to 4th grade) (259 boys and 269 girls) and 28 teachers from seven elementary schools belonging the city of Zagreb during the school year 2016./2017. The results show that 56.3% of children on average are familiar with the domestic animals, look and their feeding habits while, on
average 66.4% of the children differ the names of males, females and cubs. The girls and boys showed the same knowledge of the appearance and nutrition of domestic animals, which averaged 56%. On average, 66.8% girls are better acquainted with male, female and young domestic animals than boys with an average score of 65.9%. The second grade children are less familiar with domestic animals compared with the third and the fourth grade children. The third grade children are more familiar with the physical features of domestic animals comparing with the second and the fourth grade children. The fourth grade children achieved higher success in making differences among the animal categories (males, females and cubs) compared with the second and the third grade children. According to teachers’ opinion the lower grade children are not good enough in the knowledge about domestic animals due to city life and rare country visits. It was concluded that the lower grade children in the city of Zagreb had poor knowledge about the external and the feeding habits of domestic animals while a very good knowledge in differing the names of males, females and cubs. Any form of outdoor education in animal raising areas can greatly increase the knowledge about domestic animals.

Keywords

domestic animals; school children; teachers; the city of Zagreb

Hrčak ID:

186163

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/186163

Publication date:

28.8.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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