Popularization of Science

Popularization of Science

Study of content analysis of elementary experimental science textbooks from the perspective of environmental education and clean earth

Author
Associate Professor Physics/ Education Department of Science Education, Research Institute of Education studies(rie) Organization for Educational Research and Planning(OERP )
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this article is to analyze the content of elementary school science textbooks from the perspective of concepts related to "clean earth".
Methodology: The method of the present study is content analysis and the statistical population: includes science textbooks from the first to sixth grades of elementary school. Data were collected and coded using a content analysis form and themes related to the environment (natural resources, pollution, recycling, efficient consumption).
Findings: While some concepts such as natural resources and water are relatively covered, topics such as climate change, recycling and wildlife protection have received less attention. Natural resources are ranked highest with 25% and 35 items and play a prominent role in the content examined. Areas related to environmental pollution with 15%, efficient energy consumption with 11%, recycling with 7% and wildlife protection with 6% constitute smaller parts of the content, but still have significant importance in the analysis.
Results: In addition to the broad coverage of general science concepts, environmental issues have a significant share in the content studied. However, climate change and practical environmental education have received less attention, and modern environmental issues are rarely seen in Iranian textbooks and are far from global standards. These results can be a basis for reviewing and enriching the content of elementary school experimental science textbooks and strengthening environmental education in these textbooks.
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