In the master’s thesis Strengthening National Identity through Geography and History Lessons in Primary Schools, we examined how examples of strengthening national identity and national consciousness can be included in geography and history lessons in primary schools. Slovenian national identity and the Slovenian nation began to form at the beginning of the 19th century, along with the national development of other nations. The analysis of the curricula for geography, history, and Civic and Homeland Culture and Ethics showed that more national content is included in the history curriculum, while such content also appears in the subject Civic and Homeland Culture and Ethics. By analysing selected textbooks of three primary school subjects – Geography, History, and Civic and Homeland Culture and Ethics – we found that most of the content related to national identity is included in the materials for history, while in geography materials the content is directly related only to the ninth-grade curriculum. The discussed topics refer to strengthening national identity over time and, in all subjects, present the creation of the independent Slovenian state. We prepared and carried out three lessons and a geographical-historical excursion to the Soča Valley, showing that national topics can be included in lessons in various ways. In the master’s thesis, we find that teachers play an important role in strengthening national identity and national consciousness through geography and history teaching in primary and secondary schools. They encourage pupils to think and to gradually develop a sense of belonging to their country, language, and nation.
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