The contribution of geographical elements in the 8th grade T.C. History of Revolution and Kemalism curriculum to spatial thinking skill-teachers' views. (The case of Isparta province)

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of social Studies trachersworking in Isparta regarding the contribution of geographical elements included in the 8th Grade T.C. History of Revolution and Kemalism course curriculum to spatial thinking skills.Based on the teachers' opinions, the contribution of the geographical elements in the program to spatial thinking skills was tried to be determined.For the research, the case study model, which isamong the descriptive research methods, wasutilized from qualitative research designs.Aspart of the research, the opinions of 20 social Studies Teachers working in publicschools in the citycenter of Isparta were examined.The research data were obtainedusinginterview and document analysis methods. The datacollectedthrough semi structuredinterviewforms and face to faceinterviewtechniques were analyzedusingcontent analysis and descriptive analysis methods with the MAXODA program. The dataobtainedthrough document analysis were subjected to content analysis.Uponexamining the findings, it was noted that while the curriculum mentioned problem solving skills, the spatial thinking skill, whichencompassespracticalsolutionsamong problem solving skills, was not included,the geographical elements that would develop spatial thinking were eitherinsufficientlycoveredor included in a limited and geography-independentmanner,there was no explanations providedfor the geographical elements, and students were expected to assesswithout geographical context, spatial thinking is importantfor the course on the History of the Turkish Republic and Kemalism, but it was not sufficiently included in the eighth grade curriculum for this course according to the teachers'opinions, the geographical elements in the program were presented as placenames and political terms, it was determined that the geographical elements in the curriculum have an impact on the use of spatial thinking skills. Key Words: Geographic Element, Geography, History, Place, Spatial Thinking.