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Perspectives: Using Analogies in Elementary Science

Science and Children—December 2008

Using analogies in science classrooms helps students make connections between everyday life and the concepts we are trying to teach. Analogies help students form a bridge between their existing knowledge and new knowledge. Humans use analogical reasoning naturally, especially when trying to explain something to others. In addition, Glynn (2007) points out that many of our conversations start with “It’s just like…,” “It’s similar to…,” or “Think of it in this way….” By using analogies, teachers can help students create mental models that link new and sometimes abstract ideas to prior experiences.
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