Thesis ( M.A.Ed - Science in Education ) - Mariano Marcos State University, 2019.

Bibliography: leaves 42-43.

ABSTRACT TUDLONG, ZYRA MAE S. Mariano Marcos State University. May,2019. AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND EXTENT OF USE OF MANIPULATIVE MATERIALS IN TEACHING SCIENCE. Major Adviser: Dr. Natividad E. Lorenzo This study determined the availability, accessibility and extent of use of manipulative materials in teaching science. The study was conducted in the Division of Laoag City involving all the 34 teachers teaching Elementary Science 5 in the different public elementary schools in the division. The quantitative descriptive survey method was used. The questionnaire was the main tool data gathering. Unstructured interviews and ocular visits to the science rooms taking note of the manipulative materials specifically laboratory apparatus was also undertaken to validate the data gathered through questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using means. The findings of study showed that manipulative materials are available and accessible in the public elementary schools but inadequate. It was also found that the extent of use of the manipulative materials is moderately used by teachers and students in their classes. Inadequate materials were the main concern of the teacher respondents as regards to context-caused problems, students’ attention on teacher-related problems and students not considering the activities as entertaining and noise caused by students in the laboratory as regards to student-related problems. It was concluded that the elementary Science classroom of the Division of Laoag City have available and accessible but inadequate manipulative materials. Generally, these materials are not always used by the teachers because of some concerns. The limited use of these materials also leads to some of the problems encountered by the teachers in conducting laboratory classes.