INQUIRY BASED LEARNING AND LANDSCAPE APPRECIATION

This paper describes how science education is a powerful tool to understand and appreciate the characteristics of the territory. Two classes of Acariss project were involved in two didactic modules based on IBL and using the 5E Learning Cycle Instructional Model (Bybee et al., 2006). These modules concerned two distinguishing features of the territories around the schools. One class was involved in activities related to the effects of CO2 natural emissions on plants, whereas the other class activity dealt with soil erosion. Field trip visits to a natural CO2 spring and a landslide were used to introduce and engage students in these topics. Observing real phenomena and applying the scientific methodology to represent or investigate them allowed students to raise effectively the interest and the knowledge towards their territory.