A comparative study on the reflection of world's science and technology heritage on social studies textbooks of different countries

The subjects of the history of science and technology have been included in textbooks to achieve this objective in social studies that allows for raising equipped individuals with a quality desired by communities. In addition, it is necessary to present the viewpoints of different communities which have contributed to this history at various levels for a more qualified teaching of the history of science and technology. In this study, the social studies textbooks of Turkey, Syria France and USA were examined to present these viewpoints. The 4th-7th-grade social studies textbooks in Turkey and the social studies textbooks that are taught at class levels corresponding to secondary school in Syria, the USA, and France were discussed in this study. An attempt to reveal the discussed textbooks' states of reflecting the elements of the history of science and technology such as scientific and technological developments, historical periods, scientists/inventors, civilizations/states was made. Then, some comparison were made between the textbooks.Consequently, it was found that various scientific and technological developments belonging to different historical periods were included in the textbooks of four countries. It was also observed that various scientists, inventors, civilizations or states that contributed to scientific and technological developments were included in textbooks. In conclusion section, the results obtained in finding and interpretation sections were evaluated. In suggestions section, some suggestions were offered with reference to the findings and interpretations obtained in the research. Keywords: Social Studies Textbooks, Turkey, Syria, USA, France.