The purpose of this study was to do a content analysis of the environmental education programs designed for elementary school students. A framework for the content analysis was developed from a extensive review of literatures. The review focused on ob...
The purpose of this study was to do a content analysis of the environmental education programs designed for elementary school students. A framework for the content analysis was developed from a extensive review of literatures. The review focused on objectives, contents, historical developments, and current status of environmental education in elementary schools. The Seventh National Curriculum developed by the Ministry of Education were analysed.
The major findings and recommendations were as follows: (1) The examined curriculum were not differentiated, and reflected with the unique mission of the subjects. Therefore it should be uniquely developed among the subjects. (2) Among Objectives of environmental education, Knowledge and information were overemphasized, but attitude, values, behavior and participation were ignored. Therefore the education for environment(attitude, values, behavior and participation) should be more emphasized in developing a new curriculum. (3) The Seventh National Curriculum dealt with the limited areas in the nine areas of environmental education. That is, contents such as environmental conservation natural environment and artificial environment were well reflected, but other environmental education contents were ignored. Thus all the contents areas should be also more emphasized in developing a new curriculum. (4) From the considerations of the developmental stage of elementary students and the approaches to environmental education a new program should be focused upon values, attitudes, and behaviors and participation rather than information and knowledge on environment.