Environmental awareness of primary school-aged children in Brisbane, Australia

Ruel Muldoon; Tessa Shelford; Olivia J. Holland; Deanne H. Hryciw

doi:10.30722/ijisme.27.02.003

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Environmental awareness of primary school-aged children in Brisbane, Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Environmental awareness of primary school-aged children in Brisbane, Australia

Ruel Muldoon, Tessa Shelford, Olivia J. Holland and Deanne H. Hryciw

International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Vol.27(2), pp.33-44

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30722/ijisme.27.02.003

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Abstract

Awareness

Behaviour

Children

Environment

Primary school

Survey

Increased interest in conservation has led to an emerging interest in understanding children’s environmental awareness. Consequently, an increase in environmental education as part of the curriculum in Australian primary schools has resulted. The awareness of students in Australian primary schools has not been extensively studied. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the environmental awareness of primary school aged children, and if gender or age influences awareness. We surveyed 105 primary school students (66 girls, 39 boys; 9 to 12 years of age) from Brisbane, Australia. The survey consisted of 10 closed questions and two open questions about human impacts on the environment and food waste. There was no gender difference in the number of correct responses, and older students had more correct responses. Further, females were more likely than males to correctly answer questions focused on behaviour and its impact on the environment. Open questions identified broad global themes of human impacts on the environment, with students focusing on repurposing food waste rather than reducing the amount of food purchased as a way of managing food waste. Therefore, specific types of environmental awareness are observed in primary school aged children.

Details

Title: Environmental awareness of primary school-aged children in Brisbane, Australia
Authors: Ruel Muldoon - Griffith University
Tessa Shelford - Griffith University
Olivia J. Holland - Griffith University
Deanne H. Hryciw (Corresponding Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Vol.27(2), pp.33-44
Publisher: Institute for Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.30722/ijisme.27.02.003
ISSN: 2200-4270
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Biomedicine
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991187227402621
Output Type: Journal article

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