AN EXAMINATION OF ACTIVITY MATERIALS IN SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN THE CONTEXT OF ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY: THE CASE OF TURKIYE

Abstract

This study examines the materials used in activities recommended in fifth-grade Science textbooks in Türkiye and in the instructional contents provided through the Education Information Network (EIN), a digital platform endorsed by the Ministry of National Education, from the perspective of ecological sustainability. Employing document analysis as a qualitative research method, the study focuses on the “activity station” and “performance station” sections of the textbooks, as well as instructional materials on the EIN platform designed in accordance with the newly implemented curriculum model. The analysis reveals that, in several respects, the materials recommended for classroom activities are not fully aligned with the sustainability-oriented goals emphasized in the current curriculum. These inconsistencies point to a gap between the curriculum’s value-based framework and its practical implementation. Based on the findings, the study offers sustainability-oriented recommendations aimed at improving the ecological compatibility of instructional materials used in science classrooms.