Abstract

This study was carried out to put forth gifted students’ perspectives towards “earthquake” concept. A total of 156 primary school students participated in the research in Ankara BÄ°LSEM schools in 2010-2011 academic year. The data of the research was gathered by completing “The earthquake means….. “, or I consider earthquake as …….” statement. In the analysis and interpretation of the data, content analysis technique was used. As a result, the majority of the gifted students stated earthquake as: “quakes due to the movements of earth crust”, “destruction”, “loss of property and life”, “natural disaster”, “death” and “calamity”. According to the results of the research, the following suggestions were offered: 1) developing and spreading natural hazards education at gifted students’ institutions should be handled seriously. 2) Educational programs should be prepared in order to build environmental conscious via social communicational tools. 3) Gifted students should be given opportunities in the projects towards educational programs in relation with earthquakes, in other words, natural hazards.

Key words: Gifted children, earthquake, earthquake education, geography teaching.