FORMATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' ATTITUDES DURING SCIENCE LESSONS

Abstract

The main aim of environmental education is to form students' attitudes and positive emotional relationship with the surrounding nature. The science teaching at the primary school level is connected with the basis of general education (2009) and it is oriented on the implementation of modern educational tasks. They include, among others understanding of the relationships existing in the natural environment, human dependence on environmental conditions and human impact on the environment. So, asking questions and posing the hypothesis about the phenomena and the processes in nature is priority. The science knowledge which constitutes only the traditional canon of contents, is considered by students as unsuitable for everyday life (Silent, 2006, Wojcik 2005, Tuszyńska 2008, Potyrała, Walosik 2006, 2007). In this context we should take into account students' living situations and the possibility of undertaking decisions based on acquired knowledge and problem-solving activities. An important task facing the nature and biology teachers is to show students a variety of life situations requiring the use of biological and ecological knowledge. The formation of attitudes, especially pro-environmental behavior, is assumed from years (Mika 1981, Mądrzycki 1977). The main aim of this research was the evaluation of the level of environmental awareness of primary school students, participating in the workshops and definition of the influence of experimental teaching on shaping students' attitudes and level of understanding of the principles of sustainable development. The purpose of the survey research was the study of connections between the activities for the environment and these principles. 45 students of 6 primary school classes in Jaworzno participated in this survey. The results of participation of students in the workshops, point to the large role of the direct contact with nature in shaping the nature of activity and interest in the environment. Analysis of expression revealed differences in students' awareness and has shown the need for changes in existing methods of accounting for these issues. The research results point to the fact that the proposed forms of environmental activity help to increase students' ecological awareness and their proper pro - environmental attitudes.