Ecosystems and geochemical cycles in Portuguese textbooks of two historical periods

Abstract

The present study intends to analyse the didactic transposition of the topic Ecosystems and Cycles, in national programmes and textbooks of the Portuguese education system in the period between 1991 and 2006. The changes during this period in the "national Portuguese curricula" and respective "competencies" were identified from primary up to the secondary school level (12 years of schooling). Their respective contents were analysed in order to identify topics where Ecosystems and Cycles were addressed in the national programmes. From this analysis, respective textbooks of Environmental Studies, Natural Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Geology and Geography, Social Studies and Chemistry where Ecosystems and Cycles where the topic of Ecosystems and Cycles was present were analysed. Results showed two periods: Time I (1991 – 2000) showing more developed approach to the presentation of the subjects as compared with Time II (2000 – 2006). The textbooks approach is essentially ecocentric and focused in knowledge contents. It was concluded that in addition to the need of improving some contents, approaches concerning environmental education skills are a matter that need to be taken into account in textbooks so that students can be active citizens regarding environment issues and thus contribute to a better quality of life on Earth.