INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSTRUCTION, cilt.11, sa.2, ss.569-584, 2018 (ESCI)
States of matter are structures that we may easily encounter in the universe as well as our close environment. The plasma state is the fourth state of matter, and it has much different properties in comparison to the solid, liquid and gas states of matter. In order to understand the universe and the environment we live in better, one needs to have knowledge on the fundamentals of the concept of plasma. Therefore, it is believed that the fourth state of matter, plasma, should be included in science curricula based on the cognitive development levels of students. Based on this idea, this study investigated the views of prospective science teachers who took the course "plasma physics and technologies" which is an elective course in the undergraduate science teaching program at the faculty of education at a state university in Turkey on the class levels and methods to teach students the concept of plasma. Accordingly, the aim of the study is to determine the views of prospective science teachers about plasma concept and teaching. The prospective science teachers stated that the concept of plasma should be included in science curricula on the levels of primary school and middle school.