Effects of Experimental Activities on Students' Learning in Life and Earth Sciences: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Moroccan Secondary Education

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of experimental activities on students' learning in Life and Earth Sciences (LES). Conducted within a secondary school context, the research involved a sample of 100 students, divided into 20 groups of 5 learners each, who participated in an experimental activity related to the study of soil. A quantitative descriptive approach was adopted based on a pre-test, an experimental intervention, a post-test, and a satisfaction questionnaire.

The results revealed a substantial improvement in students’ understanding of the targeted concepts, with the average score increasing from 49.39% in the pre-test to 86.70% in the post-test, representing a gain of 37.31 percentage points. Furthermore, most students reported that the experimental activity facilitated their understanding of the lesson, enhanced their motivation, and promoted active participation. The findings also showed that 97.5% of the learners considered the activity useful or very useful, while an equally high percentage expressed positive levels of motivation during the experiment.

These results highlight the pedagogical value of experimental activities in facilitating scientific learning, strengthening student engagement, and developing essential scientific skills such as observation, analysis, and interpretation. The study supports the integration of inquiry-based and hands-on learning approaches in Life and Earth Sciences teaching. Despite certain limitations related to the sample size and the absence of a control group, the findings emphasize the importance of experimental work as an effective teaching strategy for improving the quality of science education.

Keywords: Life and Earth Sciences, experimental activities, learning, student motivation, inquiry-based learning, scientific skills, secondary education.

Received Date: 20 October 2025 

Accepted Date: 11 November 2025 

 Published Date: 1 December 2025

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/762