Investigation of traditional ecological knowledge elements found in secondary school Turkish course books

Among the materials most frequently used in schools, textbooks come first. Textbooks not only provide information to students but also serve as valuable resources that convey our cultural values, historical heritage, sacred narratives of the past, humanity's relationship with nature, and the elements involved in transmitting this heritage. Through the texts and activities in textbooks, students are not only taught traditional knowledge but are also encouraged to understand the importance of living in harmony with nature, being sensitive to environmental issues, and appreciating cultural diversity. In Turkish textbooks at the middle school level, stories, poems, proverbs, idioms, folk tales, legends, and epics are used to address the elements of traditional ecological knowledge that emerge from the interaction between humans and nature, thus providing students with a broader perspective on cultural development. The elements of traditional ecological knowledge, which have illuminated humanity's path for centuries, demonstrate the importance of living in harmony with nature. This thesis study, which aims to reveal how cultural transmission is carried out by examining the elements of traditional ecological knowledge in middle school Turkish textbooks, adopts a qualitative research method. The research materials/documents consist of the Turkish textbooks at the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels, approved by the Board of Education and Discipline of the Ministry of National Education for use in public and private schools. The 5th-grade Turkish textbook analyzed in this study is based on the "Century of Türkiye Education Model." The data collection tool used is document analysis, and the data were analyzed using content analysis techniques. The study found that elements of traditional ecological knowledge arising from human–nature interaction are present particularly at the level of texts, activities, and visuals within specific themes in middle school Turkish textbooks. This thesis is expected to contribute to the relevant body of literature. Keywords: Traditional ecological knowledge elements; Turkish textbooks; Human–nature interaction; Cultural transmission.