The tree as an ecosystem

Abstract

Primary education provides pupils with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for life. The changes occurring in modern society demand a different approach to upbringing and education - one that, among other things, equips pupils to integrate acquired knowledge and engage in lifelong learning. This can be achieved through the STEAM approach to teaching. As STEAM involves interdisciplinary teaching, the project “The Tree as an Ecosystem” presents possibilities for integrating school subjects through various perspectives, as a single tree can experience and endure much like a human being; a tree is also an ecosystem comprising numerous processes, a source of oxygen, energy, and more. This approach to teaching is based on a model of sustainability that emphasises the importance of guiding development policies through the extensive application of scientific achievements and new technologies, with the aim of protecting nature and preserving the environment. The paper highlights the difficulties present in subject-based teaching, particularly regarding the organisation of the teaching process in terms of planning and preparation, as well as the limited understanding of curricula from other subjects, which poses serious obstacles to alternative methods of planning and comprehending the educational process.