Imagine a school: Children draw and explain the ideal environmental school

Adiv Gal, Dafna Gan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using drawings and accompanying written and oral explanations by third- and sixth-grade students, this phenomenological study is an examination of the children's perception of the ideal environmental school. Analysis of the 128 features in the drawing yielded four categories: (1) physical - with natural areas and outdoor learning, (2) cognitive - core subjects and environmental ones, (3) emotional - the students' feelings and the spaces for releasing stress and energy and (4) educational - environmental education (EE) includes a variety of pedagogies, features of nature and environmental solutions. While the drawings and explanations presented the school as the children know it, without boundary-breaking imagination and creativity, they also showed a desire for a positive school atmosphere, defined as essential to holistic EE and to leading environmental change. The positive atmosphere, nature and the environmental spaces can be the foundation of developing EE that is not fear based, which often generates helplessness and prevents action. The recommendations emphasise the need to enhance positive thinking and not to focus only on fear tactics as a means to enhance holistic EE and protect the environment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)208-223
Number of pages16
JournalAustralian Journal of Environmental Education
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Nov 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Keywords

  • children's drawings
  • children's imagination
  • education for sustainability
  • holistic environmental education
  • positive thinking
  • students' voice

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