Are Spatial and Systems Thinking Skills Identified inTurkish Primary Science Curriculum Enough forGeography Education?

Abstract

Today, individuals need a solid understanding of how earth as a system works in order to understand and developsolutions for science-based issues affecting societies on a global scale such as natural disasters, global warming orCOVID-19 pandemic. Humans also deliberate space investigations, such as interplanetary travels and life in space.Therefore, it is necessary to develop new skills to meet the requirements of the current world order overcome this kindof issues through science and geography education. Spatial and systems thinking skills are two of 21st century skills inteaching and learning science-related topics. The study purposes to examine current Turkish primary sciencecurriculum regarding these skills. Document analysis method of qualitative research design was implemented in thestudy. Emergent qualitative analysis methods of content analysis and open coding were used. It is sought to analyze theresearch literature on geography education in order to delineate competences necessary for understanding societalproblems related to earth science and astronomy-based physics units considering Turkish primary science curriculumframework. The findings of the study showed that the competences spatial and systems thinking skills should be moreintegral part of science curricula. Especially for spatial thinking skills, educators and policy makers should reconsiderthe learning objectives in primary science curriculum framework. In conclusion, the results indicated that spatial andsystems thinking skills were partially acquired in the curricula. Some units should be clarified and enhanced dependon spatial thinking abilities, systems thinking abilities or both of them.