CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS - A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY COMPETENCES OF PUPILS IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION AT CZECH LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The contribution presents the issue of the importance and function of numerical tasks in the field of science and technical subjects education at the level of lower secondary school education. Based on the results of their own research, the authors point out to the important role of the application of mathematical apparatus in teaching, as it is important for the development of key competences and the development of chemical skills and the technical thinking of pupils. The paper presents the conclusions of applied research in the field of chemistry education at lower secondary schools. The issue is topical, especially in times of declining science skills (PISA 2015). As a solution, it is possible to increase the emphasis on the use of calculation tasks as a motivational and linking element between theory and practice for forming and enhancing pupils' key competencies. The emphasis of the contribution is the crucial need to develop mathematical and technical thinking in children at an early age.