Environmental awareness: basis for preschool education program./ Mary Grace A. Divina , Ivy C. Fider, Roxanne A. Suarez, Mary Joy L.Toraldo, Arlene B. Tuyor. -- Parañaque City; Olivarez College, 2010.
Undergraduate Thesis
This study aimed to determine the environmental awareness of the preschoolers as basis for Preschool Education Program. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents with regards to: 1.1 Gender; 1.2 Age? 2. What is the respondent's level of the environmental awareness according to the above variables? 3. Are there significant differences in the respondent's level of environmental awareness when grouped according to: 3.1 Gender: 3.2 Age? 4. What preschool environmental education program should be designed based on the findings of this study? The present study was focused on the environmental awareness of preschoolers of the Olivarez College Outreach program as basis for designing preschool environmental education program. The subjects of the study were the 121 less privileged preschoolers registered in the program during the school year 2009-2010. The descriptive method of research was used where gathering device was the self-made checklist/questionnaires. The data were statistically treated using percentage, weighted mean and ANOVA. Percentage was used for descriptive purposes. Weighted mean was used to determine the group responses on the level of environmental awareness. ANOVA is a procedure used to test the hypothesis that the means of three or more populations were equal as cited by Reyes (2004). Findings Based on the data gathered, tabulated, analyzed, and interpreted, the following were the findings: 1. On the demographic profile of the respondents: 1.1. Age. Majority of them or 74 or 61.16 percent of the responders were five years old, 23 or 19.01 percent were four years old, nineteen of them or 15.70 percent were six years old, while 5 or 4.13 percent did not identify their age 1.2 Gender. Out of 121 preschoolers, 61 of them or 50.41 percent were boys, while 60 or 49.59 percent were girls. This would infer that girls are sometimes greater in number than boys in a class. 2. Extent of the level of environmental awareness of outreach preschoolers of Olivarez College Sixty two students or 51.24 percent out of 121 were aware but not much of their concern on the environment, 23 or 19.01 percent were moderately aware, 121 of them or 17.36 percent slightly aware, 6 or 4.96 percent were a little bit aware, 5 or 4.13 percent were unaware and only 4 or 3.30 were very much aware on their roles to maintain a clean, healthy and safe environment. It could be inferred from the data that the parents should be the model to their children to show their concern in making their surroundings clean and best place to live in. Children usually follow or imitate what they see from their parents or from older people. It is, therefore, the responsibilities of the parents to teach their children the proper use of waste disposal, water conservation, maintain clean air and other appropriate steps to follow to maintain cleanliness and orderliness in the community. 3. As to the significant differences in the respondent's level of environmental awareness when grouped according to: 3.1 Gender. There is no significant differences on the respondents' level of environmental awareness between the preschoolers when grouped by gender with the value of f at df 1/119; a of 0.05-253. The findings would mean that girls and boys of the outreach program of the Olivarez College were aware of their responsibility in making their place free from diseases for them to live happily and contented in their community. 3.2 Age. There is no significant differences in the respondents' level of the environmental awareness of the pupils when grouped according to age as reflected by a value of f at df 2/113; a of 0.05 19.49. This would mean that all of the preschoolers regardless of their young age believe that they should show concern in making their environment free from pollution. 4. As to the proposed preschool environmental education program. The proponents designed five programs that will help the community preserve and maintain clean and healthy that will make all the residents live free from any hazardous effects. These programs were family day with a theme "Plant a Seed Program", the 3 Rs, "harap ko, walis ko", fogging, and seminar/orientation on environmental issues. Conclusions In view of the findings of this study, the following conclusions are hereby advanced: 1. The dominant gender among respondents was males. Most of the respondents were five years old. 2. The result showed that even at young age, respondents had developed environmental awareness among themselves. 3. The environmental awareness level of the respondents who were aware but not much got the highest frequency and percentage which showed that the children of today are sensitive enough to understand how essential it is to take care of our environment. Recommendations On the basis of the findings of the study, the researchers offer the following recommendations: 1. Children even at a young age should be exposed on how to take care of our environment by allowing them to watch television shows and videos that cater lessons that impart the importance of the environment to living things. Exposing them to those kinds of materials may increase the level of environmental awareness of these children. 2. Lectures and symposia for parents regarding issues that will open up their consciousness to environmental issues especially to slam areas where families who are in so much poverty and ignorance on proper hygiene as well as on how to take care of their surroundings be conducted. Places like this really need much attention to increase the environmental awareness of everybody especially the young ones. Since learning starts at home, parents or guardians have much authority to teach and to discipline their children on proper disposal of wastes and other garbage. In this regard, it is in the hand of the older people where the early learning of these young children starts. 3. Programs like "Clean and Green Drive" where young children are exposed and acquainted to this kind of environmental program be implemented.