Preservice elementary teachers' conceptions of the causes of seasons

This study used both a written procedure and a procedure of models with verbal explanation to investigate 49 preservice elementary teachers' conceptions of what causes the seasons. Only one person each provided a response on each procedure which reflected a scientific conception. A total of 39 students provided alternative conception responses on the written procedure: 42 students provided responses judged to reflect alternative conceptions on the models with verbal explanation procedure. The distance of the earth from the sun was the most commonly expressed alternative conception on both procedures. Many students were not consistent in providing a particular alternative conception for the two procedures, which indicates that the alternative conceptions expressed may not be firmly held.