In the master’s thesis, we discuss the issue of the development of the national and civic identity of elementary school pupils during history lessons. The theoretical part of the assignment presents concepts that are necessary for the consideration and understanding of national and civic identity (awareness and identity, ethnicity, nation, the nation and state). We analyse the general and operational goals of the history curriculum, which directly relate to the national and civic identity of the pupils. We also present examples of lesson planning that leads pupils to achieve the discussed goals. The planning and implementation of lessons, which follow the achievement of the goals of forming the pupils’ national and civic identity, requires the teacher to know and understand the formal framework (legal and programmatic framework) and to be sufficiently competent to teach the discussed content. The survey responses of the teachers involved in the empirical research show that they do not feel competent enough to teach the discussed topics, that they are not sovereign in their knowledge of the legal and programmatic framework (the general and operational goals of the history curriculum, which concern the development of the national and civic identity of pupils). The history teachers say that following the learning goals of developing pupils’ awareness of national and civic identity is challenging. The master’s thesis emphasizes the importance of the history teacher in the formation of national and civic identity and with that preparing pupils for active citizenship and respect for their own and other cultures.
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