Cultural values: based on elementary students’ views

Abstract

Identifying how students perceive cultural values is important to educate them as good citizens and their socialization. The aim of this study is to identify elementary school students’ perception of cultural values. The study was conducted 6 male and 7 female, totally 13 4th graders studying at Ertugrulgazi Elementary School in the Alpu district of Eskisehir during the spring term of 2014-2015 academic year. Documentary analysis method was used to gather data which were later analyzed through inductive analysis. The results revealed that the students’ perceptions about cultural values with 12 themes included: geographical characteristics of Turkey; historical characteristics of Turkey; Turkish cuisine; important values; Turkish family structure; religious festivals; national festivals; traditional ceremonies; folk music, cradlesongs and legends; handycrafts; folk dance and ancestor sports. Based on the results it can be said that they had a positive attitude towards the culture of Turkey and it can also be said that the students were aware cultural values in Turkey.