From scientific inquiry to visual expression : developing a sustainable worldview through science and fine art in primary education

Purkat, Matija (author), Devetak, Iztok (author), Vošnjak, Matej (author), Potočnik, Robert (author)

This paper explores the potential of interdisciplinary teaching that combines science and fine art to foster students’ responsible engagement with environmental and social challenges, positioned as an important contribution to sustainability. Within a participatory action research project conducted over five cycles in a Slovenian primary school, the Model of Interdisciplinary Teaching in Science and Fine Art (MITSFA) was developed. It integrates problem-based science tasks, experimental work, reflective discussions, and art assignments with a strong communicative and esthetic dimension. The paper analyses activities that encouraged scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and visual interpretation of complex phenomena, ranging from material properties to sustainable spatial planning. Empirical data include students’ artworks, interviews, written reflections, and the teacher’s research diary. Findings suggest that combining scientific exploration with visual expression deepens understanding, fosters emotional engagement, and promotes environmental and social awareness. Students showed greater sensitivity to complexity, ability to recognize layered meanings, and readiness to express their worldview through art. It can be concluded that meaningful learning emerges where scientific and artistic processes are interconnected, highlighting the teacher’s role as a creative facilitator bridging investigation and interpretation. The study demonstrates how integrating science and fine art in primary education directly supports education for sustainable development by cultivating environmental awareness and responsibility.

• Language: English
• Keywords: interdisciplinary teaching, critical and creative thinking, fine art, science education, student engagement, education for sustainable development, action research
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: PEF - Faculty of Education
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 26 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, iss. 1, art. 58
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177736
• UDC: 373.3:502
• ISSN on article: 2227-7102
• DOI: 10.3390/educsci16010058
• COBISS.SI-ID: 263408131
• Publication date in RUL: 06.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Education sciences
• Shortened title: Educ. sci.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2227-7102
• COBISS.SI-ID: 520257817

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: znanstveno raziskovanje, vizualno izražanje, trajnostni svetovni nazor, znanost, likovna umetnost, osnovnošolsko izobraževanje