From the earth to the universe: a teaching proposal about basic concepts in earth sciences and astronomy for compulsory school

We will present an innovative way of teaching about Earth and the Universe in compulsory school, based on a phenomenological approach and on the development of transversal and intertwisted pathways between Physics, Astronomy and Earth Sciences. The main aim is to familiarize the students with the idea of a systemic and a dynamic planet interacting with the other celestial bodies. Depending on age, the history of interacting systems is described and interpreted in terms of stories, models, variables and correlations among variables. Students are stimulated to participate through active cooperative work to field observations, data analysis, construction of interpretative models and theories at different levels of formalization. Results of first testing of this teaching proposal in some selected classes (students 6-11 and 11-14 years old) will be discussed.