Effects of nature-based environmental education on the attitudes of 7th grade students towards the environment and living organisms and affective tendency

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of nature-based education on the attitudes of 7th grade students towards the environment and living organisms as well as to assess the affective tendency of this education on the students. The study was carried out with 30 7th grade students at an elementary school. For this purpose, scales for “Attitudes towards Living Organisms”, “Environmentally Oriented Affective Trends”, and “Environmental Attitude” were used. In the study, an experimental research design using one group with pre- and post-testing was employed. The analysis of the data was conducted using the SPSS statistical software program. The study was conducted over 11 days in a natural setting. The participants completed 18 activities dealing with the natural environment, water and water pollution, pollution in general, natural habitats, recycling and biodiversity. At the end of the program, it was found that student’ attitudes towards the environment and living organisms, and the affective tendency on the 7th grade students were shown to be more highly developed than before the program. These results demonstrated that nature-based education had improved the students’ attitudes towards the environment and living organisms, as well as their affective tendency on the students.