Perceptions of the water cycle among primary school children in Botswana

Abstract

The study was designed to elucidate the nature of the perception of the water cycle held by Botswana pupils in standards 4 to 7 of primary schools in three different areas (namely, remote area dwellers’ settlement, peri-urban and urban areas) of Botswana. The research design employed a survey method involving the administration of a structured instrument and interview sessions for data collection. Analyses of research data were carried out by both qualitative and quantitative methods. Among other things, the outcome of the study showed that the perception of water cycle held by the study sample was positively influenced by schooling but negatively impacted upon, to some extent, by the ’untutored’ ideas the children brought to school.