Valentina Majdenić: PLAYS FOR TEACHING SUSTAINABILITY IN CROATIAN LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS
Original paper
Valentina Majdenić, Faculty of Education in Osijek, Croatia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59014/YBIA4281
Keywords:
textbooks, children’s literature, children’s playlets, methodology, sustainability
Abstract
This paper explores the role of children’s playlets in Croatian language textbooks
for young learners as a means of promoting sustainability in the school context.
Special attention is given to the analysis of dramatic situations, character roles, and
thematic motifs, as well as their contribution to shaping students’ ecological, social,
and ethical awareness. The study is based on a combination of literary-theoretical
and methodological approaches, considering the children’s playlet both as a literary
form and as a teaching tool. Through a detailed analysis of selected playlets, the
paper examines the methodological possibilities for their application in Croatian
language instruction, including the development of competencies necessary for responsible
and sustainable action, such as empathy, critical thinking, the ability to
anticipate consequences, and social sensitivity. The paper connects theoretical approaches
from ecocriticism, drama pedagogy, and contemporary Croatian language
methodology, emphasizing the importance of experiential and participatory learning,
student collaboration, and creative expression in early school years. The analysis
demonstrates that children’s playlets, due to their interactive and dialogical nature,
not only facilitate a better understanding of literary and dramatic principles but also
actively promote the development of competencies required for sustainable thinking
and behavior. The study contributes to both theoretical and practical understanding
of the function of children’s playlets in education for sustainable development and
highlights their potential role in shaping the values, attitudes, and behaviors of young
students in accordance with international guidelines for education for sustainable
development.
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