| dc.description.abstract | The main objective of the study was to establish the influence of classroom based
learning resources on performance in science for pre-school children. The study
was guided by the following specific objectives that included to examine the
influence of textbooks on performance of pre-school children in Science, to
investigate the influence of play materials on performance of pre-school children
in Science, to determine the influence of learning corners (centers) on performance
of pre-school children in Science and to assess the influence of writing materials
on performance of pre-school children in Science. The study was carried out in
Mukuru slum in Makadara sub-county, Nairobi County, Kenya. The target
population of the study consisted of ten (n=10) pre-schools, four hundred (n=400)
pre-school children, twenty (n=20) pre-school teachers and ten (n=10) head
teachers of Mukuru Slum pre-schools of Makadara Sub-county Nairobi County.
The study used an interview guide for the head teachers to collect information on
availability, importance, choosing criteria, use, sponsorship, organization and
arrangement of classroom based learning resources. The study used closed ended
questionnaire to gather information from the pre-school teachers on quantity and
variety of classroom based learning resources in the sampled pre-schools. The
study used observation schedule to determine the quantity and adequacy of the
available classroom based learning resources. Conclusions were made that children
who learnt science with aid of textbooks, play materials, learning centers (corners)
and adequate writing material performed better than those who learnt without. The
difference in performance was due to treatment or interventions done to the
experimental group. Classroom based learning resource should therefore be
availed in large numbers for better science performance in pre-school. The
ministry of education and other stakeholders should consider as a policy issue,
providing adequate classroom based learning resources in pre-schools to be used
by both pre-school teachers and pre-school children when teaching/learning in
order to improve in science performance. | en_US |
