The Effect of a Nature Camp on Children’s Conceptions of Nature

Yıl 2012, Cilt: 2 Sayı: 2, 89 - 102, 30.06.2012

Esra Yardimci , Gulsen Leblebicioglu

https://izlik.org/JA95CT64PJ

Öz

In this study, a nature camp which provides authentic learning opportunities for children was conducted. Twenty-four 4th and 5th graders (9 girls, 15 boys) participated to the camp. The camp program started with observations in the forest nearby. More focused observations were also made. Children discussed their observations with their friends and scientists. A questionnaire was applied at the beginning and end of the camp. The results showed that the nature camp program was effective in extending the children’s conception of the nature by including both living and non-living things. Most of them started the camp with a conception of the nature which consisted of only living things whereas only four children left with this conception at the end. Biological aspects of the nature also increased. Children generally stated that living or non-living things exist or live together at the nature, but relationships between them were noticed by fewer children.

Anahtar Kelimeler

nature camp , nature education , conception of nature , children

Kaynakça

• Cobern, W. W., Gibson, A. T., & Underwood, S. A. (1999) Conceptualizations of Nature: An Interpretive Study of 16 Ninth Graders’ Everyday Thinking, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36(5), 541- 564.
• Dettmann-Easler, D. & Pease, J. L. (1999) Evaluating the Effectiveness of Residential Environmental Education Programs in Fostering Positive Attitudes Toward Wildlife, The Journal of Environmental Education, 31(1), 33-39.
• LeCompte, M.D. & Preissle, J. (1993). Ethnography and qualitative design in educational research (2nd ed.) New York: Academic Press.
• Lijmbach, S., Margadant-Van Arcken, M., Van Koppen, C. S. A. & Wals, A. E. J. (2002) ‘Your view of nature is not mine ’: learning about pluralism in the classroom, Environmental Education Research, 8(2), 121-135.
• Marion, D. & Mary, G. (1994) Environmental Education at Summer Nature Camp, Journal of Environmental Education, 25(3), 35-41.
• Payne, P. (1998) Children’s conceptions of nature. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 14, 19–26.
• Watson, G. P. L. (2004). Place as educator, concepts of nature: Children, Summer Camp and Environmental Education. Unpublished Major Paper, York University, Toronto.
• Wilhelm, S. A. & Schneider, I. E. (2005) Diverse urban youth’s nature: implications for environmental education, Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 4, 10.