In the fifth grade of primary school students learn about the Dinaric Karst landscapes during the subject geography. In my master's thesis I was interested in whether we can use the creative movement approach when teaching this course. In the theoretical part I would define what creative movement is, what are the effects of its use, and what types of creative movement we are familiar with. I reviewed and wrote down what the curriculum for the subject geography provides so that I could connect the creative movement with geographical content. I have defined the Dinaric Karst landscapes from the following points of view: location, surface and soil, climate, waterways, flora and fauna, settlement, economy, and cultural heritage. Finally, I have divided the Dinaric Karst concepts into surface phenomena and underground phenomena. In the empirical part I used qualitative and quantitative research approach to investigate which set of activities incorporating creative movement can be used to teach about the Dinaric Karst landscapes. I have held the course in the primary school’s 5th grade where 22 students participated. Through teaching I have found out that students responded in a relaxed manner and that they felt good during lessons with creative movement approach. Their favorite form of creative movement is improvised movement. The results of the analysis of the geographical sketches before and after the completed lecture has shown differences in the progress of the student's acquisition of knowledge in the set of Dinaric Karst landscape concepts. The sketches presented by students after the lecture have shown an elevated mean of the drawn geographical concepts. Most progress has been made in terms of fauna and the surface, namely underground karst phenomena. Correspondingly I have tested the student’s knowledge through a writing exam performed immediately after the lecture and another one following a month after. The results have shown that the student’s knowledge acquired through the creative movement approach has been preserved for a long period. The latter exam has shown that most progress has been made in the cartography section.
This research is intended to encourage teachers to use creative movement techniques especially in modern sedentary lifestyle. I aspire to encourage teachers to explore different topics with this approach and develop holistic learning in children.
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