Opinions of the students at the fourth and fifth class of primary school about environment

This study is a qualitative study which has been carried out to reveal the opinions of the students at the fourth and fifth class of primary school and determine the factors which have impacts on the formation of environmental concepts by the students as well as the reasonsWorking Phase of this Research has been consisted of fourth and fifth grade students of Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa Elementary School located in Ankara Province, Mamak District.Drawing method and half structured interview technique is used in order to reveal the opinions of the students at the fourth and fifth classes at the primary school about the environmental concept. Advisor opinion is obtained for the analysis of the method and technique applied and rating scales are prepared and the opinions of the students about the environment have been determined by utilizing such scales.According to the findings obtained, it has been seen that living environment, non-living environment, environmental problems and other factors (all the factors other than the factors listed) have impacts on the formation of environmental concept of the students at the fourth and fifth classes in the primary schools. From the point of this classification, it has been determined that particularly non-living beings have impacts on the formation of environmental concept of the students. Non-living factors which gain weight in terms of formation of environmental concept of the students are cloud, sun, home and bin, whereas the living factors which gain weight in terms of formation of environmental concept of the students are tree, person and bird. In the content analysis made for the reasons of such factors revealed, it has been determined that their close environment, their feelings, desires and wishes towards the beings in the environment, their past experiences and hobbies particularly affect their frequently including such factors in their living and non-living drawings.Another result which attracts the attention on the drawings made by the students and the interviews with them in relation to the environmental concepts of the students is that the students do not give enough consideration to the environmental problems. Another results which appears is that the girl students are more likely to mention the environmental problems.When the research results are evaluated entirely, it can be said that more consideration should be given to the environmental education, environmental education should start at early ages, teachers should be model at the phase of realizing this kind of education and the principals should give more importance to the environmental activates in order to make contributions to the environmental consciousness of the students.Keywords :Environmental, environment-conscious, student, education, approach, assets, nature, environmental issue.