Abstract In this study, the conceptions of a number of teachers in the Swedish primary and lower-secondary school about cultural pluralism, the values connected to this pluralism by the Curriculum for the Compulsory School System, the Pre-School Class and the Leisure-time Centre, Lpo 94, and the possibilities for pupils to gain knowledge about these values, were studied. The conceptions of the teachers were regarded and interpreted as ideology, since the study was made from a point of departure containing an assumption about how the content of the curriculum is of importance for the development of relations of power and dominance between different groups in society. The purpose of the study was to interpret the statements of a limited number of teachers about cultural pluralism, values and knowledge, regarding the ontological, axiological and epistemological assumptions and conceptions expressed therein. The empirical data of the study was gathered through qualitative interviews with eleven teachers working in six different primary and lower-secondary schools in the Mid-Sweden region. The conceptions expressed in the statements given by the respondents were categorized. These categories were then interpreted through a typology containing four different types of ideology, here called restorative (implying a return to a social order of the past), transmissive (implying a conveyance of existing values, relations and conditions), moderative (implying short-term adjustments of existing institutions and conditions) and transformative (implying long-term and radical change) ideology. This interpretation showed that only fragmentary parts of the restorative and transformative types of ideology were expressed through the different assumptions and conceptions, while distinct and substantially developed expressions of transmissive as well as moderative ideology could be interpreted. This was discussed with reference to three different themes: the connotations conveyed by the concept of culture, the ideological content of official and semi-official documents of the curriculum – mainly Lpo 94 and the report (Skola för bildning) of the Committee of Curriculum – and the historically strong progressivist tradition in the Swedish school system. Keywords: conceptions, cultural pluralism, curriculum, ideology, knowledge, primary and lower-secondary school, teachers, values.

This diploma thesis introduces the concept of the constructivism, which follows and supports the natural ways of learning, as a paradigm for teaching and learning. First, the text describes a comprehensive educational programme Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT). Second, application of the programme in the teaching of modern history is discussed with the special reference to the history of Czechoslovakia in the years 1918-1938. Proposals of lectures respect the three-phase model of learning and using different types of historical sources. Keywords: critical thinking, lower-secondary school, interwar Czechoslovakia

The study aims to find out whether pupils of the 2nd grade of selected elementary schools in Prague 4 are able to effectively refine themselves. The main question that this diploma thesis deals with is the question whether pupils at the 2nd grade of elementary schools are equipped with such cognitive competences and vocabulary to handle this difficult role in the form of self-reflection. The sub-objectives identified the views of pupils at the 2nd grade and their teachers on self-esteem as pupils compose every quarter of their achievement and behavior assessments, record their progress and reflect on other areas where they could improve. The data was obtained through an on-line questionnaire survey and was evaluated using descriptive statistics tools. The research was carried out at the above-mentioned elementary school in Prague 4. Out of 211 pupils of the second grade, 184 pupils participated in the research. Overall 9 teachers from the total number of 17 with the approval for the second grade of primary school filled the questionnaire survey. Another type of survey is the analysis of selected quarterly self-evaluation of pupils and subsequent interviews with selected pupils. The results show pupils' incompetence towards a quarterly self-assessment. There is also a problem in the form of...

The number of foreigners moving to the Czech Republic has been raising in the past decade. Education of foreigners' children at lower secondary school is inevitable, because this level is obligatory for children aged six to fifteen, or eighteen in some cases. The aim of this thesis is to focus on education of foreign children at lower secondary level and to survey educational material provided by organizations. These materials should be helpful when integrating foreigners or teaching about migration. The practical part is a case study in which there is everything about how the particular school works with foreigners. The approach of teachers to these children is also illustrated there. The thesis reveals whether the teachers are ready for teaching foreign children who speak different mother tongue; it also evaluates the contribution of the school to integrating the children to the society.

This study focuses on, and explores the curriculum content and resources used when teaching on the European Union (EU) and EU-questions within civics education at lower secondary level in Sweden. The research findings have been examined from a ‘best practice’ perspective in relation to subject matter which is seen as positive in the context of political participation. The content, which includes polity, policy and politics, has together with an approach to treat the content as domestic politics, been viewed as a successful model leading to political participation. In order to assess to what extent the taught content facilitates pupils political participation, the EU content taught at lower secondary education is compared to national politics. In addition, as it can be expected to have an impact on what is taught, the context and actual content what is taught about EU and national politics is also compared. The results, based on information and findings collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with teachers from six different municipalities show that EU education does not compare well when contrasted against the educational content taught in relation to national level polity, policy and politics. The curriculum content taught on the EU illustrates primarily that it is the polity dimension which is dominating whereas all EU education is framed more as foreign policy politics rather than as part of domestic politics. Swedish national politics on the other hand, to a larger extent, show signs of the three dimensions and has clear characteristics of domestic politics. The citizen’s ability to influence politics is at the core of education in relation to national politics. However, this does not seem to be the case when it comes to education in relation to the EU. The politics of Swedish political parties advocated at a national level is, for example, explored in detail; however, none or very little of their politics at EU level is addressed. The dominant question, in relation to EU studies, is if Sweden should be a full member of the EU or not. The educational design in relation to national politics comes across as better planned when compared to EU studies. What is brought into the educational content in relation to EU studies depends to a large extent on the context and subject area in which it is being raised.

The diploma thesis pursues a pupil's transition to a lower secondary school. The theoretical part describes the development of Czech primary and lower secondary school. It compares the compulsory education in European countries and describes a phenomenon of transition in view of its development in an international context during the past few decades. The empirical part explores main topics of pupil's transition to higher level of education. The research is based on the case study of the primary school with pupil's transition from the fourth grade and from the fifth grade. The research aim is to find out how the transition is viewed by the pupils and their teachers and to find out the reasons for an alternation of classic model of the transition in the fifth grade of primary school. It presents the advantages and disadvantages of this modification in a view of current pupils' development. The results show that neither pupils nor the teachers perceive any major differences in a timing of the transition. For all the pupils, with no regard to the model of the transition, the more important change is the entering to the sixth grade, which is connected with the change of the curriculum. The pupils transitioning according to a new model perceive the transition after the fourth grade as an advantage for...

The thesis focuses on innovation of chemistry education in topic of Plastics and their environmental consequences in primary schools. The content of theoretical part deals with plastics around us, their history, different types and possibilities of recycling. This thesis also contains analysis of valid curricular documents and textbooks which are frequently used in classes of chemistry in primary schools. Practical part deals with proposal of set of activities with project elements including experimental activities that were executed as a part of project day. Evaluation of prepared educational activities was completed using the mind maps created by students while observing the change in number of used terms and relevance in relation to assigned topic. The results of thesis which are collected and documented confirms our assumptions focused on efficiency of project days in primary schools and shows a way how teacher's project could be transformed into activities of individual students by assigning educational tasks. KEYWORDS lower secondary chemistry education, plastics, environmental education, school project day, student's miniproject

This thesis deals with activation teaching methods used during biology classes at lower secondary school. The thesis is divided into theoretical and practical part. The first part deals with curricular documents and its relationships to activation methods, to a goal of elementary education and to a goal of activation teaching and above all to a characteristics of individual activation methods. The second part describes a selected topic of food chains. At the beginning, there is an enumeration of selected food chains from eight different environments. Furthermore, a suggestion for a teaching method, which complements the list of food chains, is presented here, as well as drawings of images, which have been created specifically for the purpose of the thesis. As a component of the second part of the thesis, there is an evaluation of a form, which has been presented to children electronically, since the suggested teaching method has not been practicable as a consequence of closed schools in the second half of the school year due to the coronavirus epidemic. The goal of this thesis is to prepare and to test a selected teaching class on the topic of a food chain and drawings of images, which might serve as a teaching material for current as well as future teachers. KEYWORDS active learning, activation...

This thesis discusses the topic of supporting the mental resilience of lower-secondary school students. It starts with a brief summary of the protective and risk factors and adolescent stress situations characteristics followed by a thorough overview of methods for development and further strengthening of mental resilience. Next, it describes the role of mental health in curricular documents. The work aims to develop a preventive program, put it in practice at a selected secondary school and evaluate its efficiency using repetitive questionnaires. The program further includes a thorough description of the methodology with attachments for teachers, who will guide the students throughout the program, as well as a portfolio for the student participants. KEYWORDS Prevention, program, mental resilience, lower-secondary school students.

The diploma thesis is focused on building a school institution using contemporary information and trends. The corresponding plot is located in Ostrava near Black Meadow, a historic centre, Ostravice river and recently arising housing complex New Carolina. Therefore this locality is becoming a suitable place for building the school institution. The main idea was to build a school not only for children but also for general public. The centre of the complex is a yard and a vestibule, which divides the building site into private spaces used solely by pupils of the school (classrooms, storage rooms, buffet...) and spaces open to the public (gymnasium, fitness centre, climbing wall, school cafeteria, art studio, library...). Due to these public places the school is “alive” even in the afternoons.