The “unknown” Greek paleoenvironment: Curriculum proposals through an ınfusion model for elementary school, using ammonite fossils

Stiliani Fragouli; Aggeliki Rokka

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2017) IEJEE

The “unknown” Greek paleoenvironment: Curriculum proposals through an ınfusion model for elementary school, using ammonite fossils

Stiliani Fragouli
Aggeliki Rokka

Published August 25, 2017 | Pages: 753-774 | Views: 295

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Abstract

In this study we introduce an infusion model to “inject” ammonites and ammonite fossils in current subjects of Greek primary curriculum. Paleontology and mainly fossils attract more and more elementary students and teachers, yet in Greece this trend is solely about dinosaurs, despite the fact that the most common Greek fossils are not dinosaurs, but ammonites. Ammonites can be found in large population and diversity inside Greek rocks, as these rocks were part of Tethys΄ seafloor at their geological time. Apart from the informal sources of education, these science topics are excluded from elementary national curriculum, and leave the regional paleoenvironment and geological history practically “unknown” to students. Data collected through a pre-test study, in 558 students of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade confirmed the above belief. A post-test at the original sample, using an open ended questionnaire and students’ drawings, evaluated positively the infusion teaching model, whose core were the ammonite fossils.

<p>In this study we introduce an infusion model to “inject” ammonites and ammonite fossils in current subjects of Greek primary curriculum. Paleontology and mainly fossils attract more and more elementary students and teachers, yet in Greece this trend is solely about dinosaurs, despite the fact that the most common Greek fossils are not dinosaurs, but ammonites. Ammonites can be found in large population and diversity inside Greek rocks, as these rocks were part of Tethys΄ seafloor at their geological time. Apart from the informal sources of education, these science topics are excluded from elementary national curriculum, and leave the regional paleoenvironment and geological history practically “unknown” to students. Data collected through a pre-test study, in 558 students of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade confirmed the above belief. A post-test at the original sample, using an open ended questionnaire and students’ drawings, evaluated positively the infusion teaching model, whose core were the ammonite fossils.</p>

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Keywords

Ammonite fossils, Marine paleoenvironment, Elementary geoscience education, Infusion model, Curriculum proposals

Affiliations

Stiliani Fragouli

Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

Aggeliki Rokka

Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

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Fragouli, S., & Rokka, A. (2017). The “unknown” Greek paleoenvironment: Curriculum proposals through an ınfusion model for elementary school, using ammonite fossils. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 9(4), 753–774. Retrieved from https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/283