The writing and production of the history books for secondary schools began in the second phase of the Program (2002-2004). The logic and the structure of the books for the three grades of secondary school are the same.
Description
The educational materials for each grade consist of one main book and booklets with supplementary material, named “A little more of history”.
The book contains the main historical narrative.
The booklets “A little more of history” (which have been designed to be used in combination with the main book) contain:
- Additional information about special terms and concepts that are employed in the text of the main narrative,
- A number of texts that complement the narrative of the book,
- Maps and pictures that enrich the narrative,
- Chronological charts,
- Sources of a large variety, both in terms of their type, and in terms of the information they provide, and, finally
- ‘Timelines’ and ‘Activities’ that aim at toning up the active learning process.
Characteristics
The teaching materials for the History course:
- Convey to the pupils, in a fun and easy way, the essential historical knowledge they are to get in their grade, as this is determined by the new Analytical Program designed by the Ministry’s Pedagogical Institute.
- Familiarize the pupils with the concepts of “historical time” and “historical change” in systematic combination with the concept of “historical place”.
- Introduce the pupils to the skills connected to the research and analysis of historical sources and to the scientific process and procedures, through which historical knowledge is produced.
- Help the pupils understand the historical construction of the society they live in, and get an idea of the multiple interconnections and interaction between historical phenomena and cultures.
What Was Completed in the 2002-2004 Phase:
- The History book for the 7th Grade: Ancient History: From the First Human Beings To the Foundation of Constantinople (330 A.D.) The book is accompanied by four leaflets of “A little more of history”. The book and the leaflets were submitted for approval to the Pedagogical Institute. The Institute demanded some changes in the materials.
- The History Book for the 8th Grade: Medieval and Modern History: From the Foundation of Constantinople (330 A.D.) To the Beginning of the 18th Century. The book is accompanied by five supplementary leaflets. The educational material for the 8th grade covers the Byzantine, Medieval and Modern History, from the foundation of Constantinople (330) to the eve of the French Revolution. The writing of the materials was completed in this phase of the Project, though they were to take their final shape in the next phase (2005-2007).
- Some chapters of the History Book for the 9th Grade were written. The book was designed to cover the European and Greek History for the period starting from the end of the 18th Century and going all the way to the 21st Century.
What Was Completed in the Period 2005-2007:
- The team of writers incorporated all the changes in the Ancient History book for the 7th Grade which were demanded by the Ministry’s Pedagogical Institute. The book and the supplementary leaflets were resubmitted in their new version.
- The History Book for the 8th Grade took its final shape and was submitted to the Pedagogical Institute for approval.
- The book for the 9th Grade, entitled Modern and Contemporary History: From the End of the 18th Century to the Beginning of the 21st Century and all its supplementary leaflets (‘A Little More of History”) were completed.
All three books were approved by the Pedagogical Institute and were added to the list of books published by OEDB, the Education Ministry’s Organization for the Publication of Educational Books.
