The plants approach in textbooks of Science in elementary education

Abstract

This paper describes and analyzes the results of a study on the topic “plants” in Science textbooks for 3rd and 4th Grade of primary education (ages 8-10). Specifically on the following questions: What should children know about plants? What general characteristics do textbooks follow in their approach to the topic? How is the content of concepts, procedures and attitudes towards plants treated? And what are the objectives of the learning activities presented in the book? The results showed that plants are very important in primary education; however, the textbooks examined do not teach children to analyze the reality of plants and very little to implement the knowledge in their daily lives; and some concepts are confusing (e.g. nutrition, feeding, respiration, and sexual reproduction in plants). This study provides indicators that can help teachers to analyze and discuss the adaptation of textbooks to the current curriculum.