Games in Instruction Leading to Environmentally Responsible Behavior

Instructional games designed so that units relating to the environmental topics of wetlands, pollution, endangered species, population, energy, and individual effects on the environment can be taught were the focus of this study. Two hundred ninety-five midwestern fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students were pre- and posttested with an instrument by Horvat and Voelker (1976) to determine changes in environmentally responsible behavior. Significant results were found between male and female students and between students who played four of the games and those who did not play those games.