A fifth-grade class is studying the phases of water. During a two-day lab activity, the students boil water, create ice and interact with liquid water at room temperature. They observe the characteristics of the phases and log their observations into their lab notebooks. The teacher then has them pair up and create a prediction on what would have to occur in order for water to go straight from the frozen phase to the gas phase. Based on Piaget's theory of cognitive development, at which stage of development are these students most likely working?
A)Sensorimotor
B)Formal operational
C)Concrete operational
D)Preoperational

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hands-on activity of manipulating water and recording its phases likely models fifth-grade students working at the concrete operational state of cognitive development. This stage, as described by Piaget, occurs between the ages of seven and eleven. During this stage, children begin applying logical reasoning to concrete situations. By observing the phases of water and then making logical predictions about this concrete concept, the students are reasoning through a situation that is not abstract. The use of logic to reason through abstract concepts occurs at the next stage: formal operational.

A Fifth-Grade Class Is Studying the Phases of Water