ERIC Number: EJ722203
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Mar-18
Pages: 25
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
Social Activism in Elementary Science Education: A Science, Technology, and Society Approach to Teach Global Warming
Lester, Benjamin T.; Ma, Li; Lee, Okhee; Lambert, Julie
International Journal of Science Education, v28 n4 p315-339 Mar 2006
As part of a large-scale instructional intervention research, this study examined elementary students' science knowledge and awareness of social activism with regard to an increased greenhouse effect and global warming. The study involved fifth-grade students from five elementary schools of varying demographic makeup in a large urban school district in the United States. The study was based on the analysis of students' responses to a writing prompt addressing an increased greenhouse effect and global warming at the beginning of and at the completion of instruction over the school year. The results indicate that students with adequate science knowledge tended to express activism more frequently, and that their expression of activism increased as they gained better science knowledge after the instruction. The results highlight the importance of effective instruction of this contemporary and controversial issue with K-12 students, so that they come to be aware of this societal problem, take action in solving the problem, and become socially responsible youth and adults.
Descriptors: Urban Schools, Elementary School Science, Science Education, Climate, Activism, Academic Achievement, Grade 5, Knowledge Level, Controversial Issues (Course Content), Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A