The Effect of Out-of-Class Nature Education Practices on the Environmental Awareness of Third-Grade Primary School Students

This study examined the effect of out-of-class nature education activities on strengthening third-grade primary school students’ nature awareness and their relationship with nature. The study was conducted during the spring semester of the 2021–2022 academic year with 30 third-grade students (f control= 15, f experimental= 15) attending a public school in the Menemen district of İzmir. A mixed-methods research approach was used in the study. The activities were carried out over a six-week period in the schoolyard according to the Out-of-Class Nature Education Activities (OCNEA) program, which was developed to align with the learning outcomes outlined in the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) curriculum. Data were collected using the Primary School Environment Awareness Scale (PSEA) for the quantitative dimension—designed as a pre-test and post-test study with a control group in a quasi-experimental design—and a semi-structured interview form for the qualitative dimension. The quantitative and qualitative data obtained were analyzed separately and then synthesized for a comprehensive evaluation at the conclusion of the study. According to the findings, the nature awareness levels of students in the experimental group were statistically higher than those of students in the control group. Furthermore, it was concluded that, compared to before the program, students used more descriptive, inclusive, and specific terms in their thoughts and statements regarding nature, plants, and animal habitats.