The water cycle as an interpretative analytical clue to analyse a didactic textbook of Geology

This article analyses the textbook published 1991 Challenge of the Natural Environment, written by Brian Knapp, Simon Ross and Duncan McCrae, adopting the water cycle as a dynamic background for the flows and interactions between the Earth spheres. The water cycle helps students to understand the difference between the subject matter and the investigation of Geology, a distinction which is fundamental for the teaching of Earth Sciences. Such approach helps to understand the way Geology has evolved as a science. The object of investigation is the crust, where a great diversity of structures, rock compositions, fabrics and textures exist. The subject matter is the historical-geological process reconstructed from naturally fixed forms. The step-by-step approach goes from the simplest to the most comprehensive concepts; it highlights the risks caused by: (a) an incomplete knowledge of natural processes or (b) absence of concern for effects of human activities on nature.Desenvolveu-se modelo de análise da concepção geocientífica veiculada em livros didáticos de Ensino Superior, baseado no ciclo da água, sua dinâmica, fluxos e interações. O modelo forneceu bons resultados, ao ser aplicado ao livro "Challenge of the Natural Environment", de Knapp, Ross e McCrae, que descrevem diferentes categorias de riscos geológicos. No ensino de geociências é fundamental distinguir entre os objetos de investigação e de estudo. Os estudos geológicos buscam recompor o objeto de estudo da Geologia o processo histórico-geológico a partir das formas fixadas em rochas e materiais sólidos. O objeto de investigação é a parte acessível da Terra: a crosta, com sua ampla variedade de estruturas, composições, tramas e texturas de rochas. Ao se distinguir objeto de estudo e de investigação, avaliam-se objetivamente riscos ocasionados: (a) pelo desconhecimento dos fenômenos naturais ou (b) quando se desconsideram efeitos de atividades antrópicas sobre a natureza172365382This article analyses the textbook published 1991 "Challenge of the Natural Environment", written by Brian Knapp, Simon Ross and Duncan McCrae, adopting the water cycle as a dynamic background for the flows and interactions between the Earth spheres. The water cycle helps students to understand the difference between the subject matter and the investigation of Geology, a distinction which is fundamental for the teaching of Earth Sciences. Such approach helps to understand the way Geology has evolved as a science. The object of investigation is the crust, where a great diversity of structures, rock compositions, fabrics and textures exist. The subject matter is the historical-geological process reconstructed from naturally "fixed" forms. The step-by-step approach goes from the simplest to the most comprehensive concepts; it highlights the risks caused by: (a) an incomplete knowledge of natural processes or (b) absence of concern for effects of human activities on natur