“Growing Up Green: A Study Focusing on Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge and Focusing on Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviors of Elementary Children.”

Author

Sarah Elizabeth Smith, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Date of Award

8-2009

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agriculture and Extension Education

Major Professor

Randol G Waters

Committee Members

Carrie Ann Stephens, Susan Lynne Hamilton

Abstract

“Growing Up Green,” is a research based environmental education program that teaches children about recycling, energy conservation, and composting. This program was taught to fourth grade students at H.B. Williams Elementary School, in White House, Tennessee. The children were given a pre-test before the program and a post-test two weeks after the program. The pre and post-test was composed of three parts. The three parts tested their environmental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. The study found that most of the children already had positive attitudes toward the environment. While, their attitudes decreased minimally after the program, they still remained very positive. The children did well on the knowledge test. Their environmental knowledge increased after the “Growing Up Green,” program. While the program did not appear to have a substantive impact on their environmental behavior adoption, the children already participated in some behaviors like recycling and conserving energy before the program, and continued these behaviors after the program, too.

Recommended Citation

Smith, Sarah Elizabeth, "“Growing Up Green: A Study Focusing on Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge and Focusing on Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviors of Elementary Children.”. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2009.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/62