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The book series of MOZAIK Publishing
House, entitled The Earth We Live On has been prepared for 4. to 10.
class. Its teaching material is aimed at all the school years in which the
foundation and elaboration of geography and environmental studies take
place in the Hungarian education system, which is undergoing serious
transformations these days. The teaching material of natural sciences
comprises the 4. to 6. year of environmental studies, and the complete
period of the geography studies (7. to 10. year). This material is
prepared in such a way that the children may gain up-to-date knowledge in
our ever changing world. Besides, another important goal is that the
material of the book and the way it is presented should express respect
for our culture and its traditions.
The books render a full range of teaching material for the students and
thorough methodological and professional expertise. The study books cover
a wide range of material: not only the material to be studied in a strict
sense, but versatile didactic possibilities as well, which fulfil the
requirements of different age groups, abilities and the teachers'
expectations too. Besides the teaching material there is a strong
methodological aspect to these books. The book is not divided into
traditional lessons, but to chapters and subchapters of different length
as it seems most logical for the different topics. The core text of the
book is made more colourful with the addition of questions, tests,
illustrations and pictures. This construction makes it possible for people
with different time allowance and skills to use the book as well. Although
the spread of information is enormous these days, the book tries to render
a coherent notion of the world. The idea of environmental awareness and
that of the unified Europe are strongly present in the books. Besides, the
social-economic development is also introduced, which Hungary is part of
as well.
The workbooks offer a wide range of material, which helps student to
have a deeper knowledge; there are additional exercises and tests as well.
These tests make students think over what they have learnt and how they
can apply what they have learnt. The exam papers make it possible to
measure the amount of knowledge gained and they also make it possible for
the teacher to decide how much the students can apply the learnt facts.
There are additional syllabi and suggestions for curricula, so that
schools may plan their own curricula and the teaching process. The
additional materials help teachers in their day-to-day work.
The topic of the books and the construction of each chapter are based
on the same principles. The students are guided from the acquisition of
general knowledge to individual characteristics in the course of the
learning process.
In environmental studies the children are introduced to the home and
its environment in their complexity, and then this knowledge is extended
to the introduction of the typical regions of the country. The aim is to
show children the complex relationship between living beings and their
environment. All this is done from the perspective of people who live in
and from nature.
Geography, which is built on the knowledge of the environment,
introduces children to universal phenomena as well as local events. The
teaching material prepares foundation for natural geography, then expands
this knowledge to the relationship between the environment and society,
and finally, it emphasises the relationship between society and economy.
It does not wish to give a full picture about different parts of the world
and countries, as facts are changing so fast in our times. Instead, it
wishes to make children understand why regions, and natural phenomena are
the way they are experienced by people. Besides, there is an attempt to
show how people living in different regions keep their traditions in their
lifestyles, in their production, or how these keep changing with time. The
books thoroughly analyse the system of the relationship between landscape
and society. The organising principle is the construction of
characteristics of parts of the world and their position in geographical
regions. For instance, the framework for the introduction of the
environmental and geographical characteristics of Hungary is based on the
natural features of the Carpathian basin and the influence of social
changes on it. Naturally, these days children can only learn about regions
shaped by human hands. However, they have to know how these changes were
carried out, because they can only understand the changes of today and
their effect on nature.
According to the principles of book
series a study book is not a book to be disliked by students, but a book,
which tries to be instructive as well as informative, and the text,
pictures and illustrations should grasp children's attention, so that
they will want to explore further to gain more knowledge.
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