Determination of academic achievement and climate literacy of secondary school 8th grade students in seasons and climate unit

Increasing greenhouse gases as a result of human activities cause climate change. Climate change negatively affects people and the environment. In order to prevent these negativities and reduce their impact, it is important to provide students with climate literacy knowledge, skills and attitudes at a young age. In this context, the aim of the study was to determine the academic achievements and climate literacy levels of secondary school eighth grade students in the seasons and climate unit. In the 2022-2023 academic year, 328 secondary school eighth grade students studying in the central district of Burdur province participated in the study. Easily accessible case sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used to determine the sample. In the study, in which the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used, the seasons and climate unit academic achievement test consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions and the Likert-type climate literacy scale consisting of 24 items with three sub-dimensions: climate concept, climatic awareness and climate awareness were used as data collection tools. The data obtained as a result of the application were analyzed with the SPSS program. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistical values (frequency, percentage, mean, median, standard deviation), independent t-test and Pearson correlation and one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) results were used. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the academic achievement of the eighth grade students in the seasons and climate unit was at a high level, their climate literacy was at a sufficient level, and there was a moderate positive significant relationship between them. In addition, it has been determined that this relationship stems from the concept and awareness sub-dimensions of climate literacy. Considering that students learn about climate and climate change more at school, it is thought that climate literacy should be made more prominent in the curriculum.