Teachers and students? views about the environmental consciousness-raising capability of the course of social studies for students

Various factors such as individuals? unconsciousness of the environment, the negative attitudes caused by this unconsciousness and the values and ethical issues that individuals lack cause Environmental problems. In order to prevent environmental problems from becoming more serious as well as to help solve such problems, it is necessary to raise students? environmental consciousness starting from the elementary school level. Since the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired at elementary school level constitute the basis of an individual?s future life, they all play an important role in raising elementary school students? environmental consciousness. In this respect, one of the elementary school courses functionally useful in raising students? environmental consciousness is the course of social studies.The purpose of the present study was to determine the teachers and students? views about the environmental consciousness-raising capability of the course of Social Studies for students. The study designed with the mixed method in the survey model was carried out with 103 elementary school teachers and 478 3rd grade students from 52 elementary schools in the educational regions of Karacahisar, Nasrettin Hoca and Porsuk Bey in the central town of Odunpazarı in Eskişehir. The research data were collected via a questionnaire for teachers including open-ended and close-ended questions and a questionnaire for students including open-ended questions to determine the views of the teachers and students. For the statistical analysis of the quantitative data in the study, the techniques of frequency and percentage were used, while for the analysis of the qualitative data, the descriptive analysis technique was applied.The results obtained in the study revealed that according to elementary school teachers, the students had the gains at a sufficient level regarding environmental consciousness found in the curriculum of the course of Social Studies; on the other hand, it was also found out that the course of Social Studies was not efficient at all for the students to acquire the gains regarding environmental consciousness. In addition, according to the elementary school teachers, the activity carried out most within the scope of the course of Social Studies to raise environmental consciousness was the school-class-environment cleanness activity as well as the recycling studies. These were followed by activities such as research/review assignments, performance/project assignments and assignments regarding preparation of visual presentations; activities regarding the teaching of the lessons with the help of visual presentations (Documentaries/Videos/CDs/Slides/Photos and so on); and activities such as trips, preparation of posters and planting trees. According to the teachers, in the course of Social Studies, there were problems experienced at most in practice in raising students? environmental consciousness. It was reported that these problems mostly occurred due to lack of time and social facilities and inefficient application fields, materials and practical activities. Other problems experienced in raising students? environmental consciousness were related to the parents? unconsciousness and indifference and the negative attitudes and responses in the social environment. According to the elementary school teachers, in order for the course of Social Studies to become effective in raising students? environmental consciousness, the number of the materials should be increased; the curriculum should include practical activities; parents? environmental consciousness should be raised; and the number of trips and related activities should e increased.According to the elementary school students, the main environmental problem experienced today was littering. In addition, air pollution due to the smoke coming out of cars and factory chimneys, air pollution, deforestation and throwing away recycling wastes into the nature are among the environment-related problems experienced. For a better environment, the most important thing is to avoid littering or to put the litter in rubbish bins. In addition, planting trees, avoiding cutting or damaging trees and warning those who damage the environment are among the things to be done for a better environment.Key Words: Environmental Consciousness, Environmental Problems, Elementary School, the Course of Social Studies, the Social Studies Curriculum.