Environmental Education and Primary Children's Attitudes towards Nature and the Environment

Abstract> Some shortcomings of the current UK National Curriculum policy of delivering environmental education through traditional subjects are outlined and provide the context for reporting the results of a pilot study into Year 5/6 school children's attitudes towards nature and the environment. Its findings indicate that while the attitudes of children of this age towards nature and the environment are generally very positive, they can involve a number of limitations, dichotomies and ambivalences which it will be important for their education to help them to address. Issues for educational policy and pedagogy, particularly the need for an enhanced role for pupil discussion and participation in environmental action, are raised.