Investigation of Life Science textbooks about containing the bullying as a topic

In this research, it is aimed to examine the texts in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade Life Studies textbooks in terms of bullying, peer bullying, bullying behaviors and methods of combating bullying and to determine how and how often bullying behaviors and methods of coping with bullying are exemplified. It is aimed to contribute to the inclusion of these subjects in a more functional way in the name of early awareness in the textbooks. Since the main data source of the research is the primary school Life Studies textbooks in which the behavioral types of bullying and the methods of combating bullying are examined, the research was carried out with the document analysis pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. The research data were collected with the checklist developed by the researcher as a result of the literature review of bullying. According to the research findings, it was seen that all of the primary school Life Studies textbooks included information about bullying. According to the results of the research, it was determined that the examples of bullying behavior were mostly found in the 2nd Grade Life Studies textbooks, followed by the 3rd Grade Life Studies textbooks and the 1st Grade Life Science textbooks, respectively. Considering the frequency of including examples of bullying behavior as a theme; It is seen that the theme of "Life in Our School" ranks first, followed by the themes of "Safe Life" and "Life in Our Country". It has been determined that the most frequently discussed examples of bullying behavior in the Life Science textbooks are being hurtful, being forced to do something one does not want, negative/wrong behaviors, rude-offensive-bad-nasty words/speaking, and harming actions/behaviors. On the other hand, it is seen in the textbooks that the effect of bullying on students is mostly reflected as the behavior of hurt/offended and upset. It has been observed that the most common response to bullying behaviors is getting help from parents and teachers. As a result; In the light of the findings, it is aimed to raise awareness about the issue of bullying, which is a social problem and directly affects the school climate negatively, and to contribute to the regulation of Life studies textbooks in a way that will bring concrete suggestions for the solution of the problem.