This study investigates the extent to which ecological awareness is integrated into the middle school curricula (Grades 6-8) in Turkey. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, content analysis was conducted on 13 compulsory courses from the 2022-2023 academic year. The analysis involved thematic coding and frequency distribution of 171…

Derivation of an energy source from the movement of the tides is the reason for considering a lagoon to trap seawater in Swansea Bay. But while the professional engineers are investigating the possibility of that development, this student group has undertaken a study of the viability of developing biological sources of energy in this restricted…

Five past great mass extinctions have occurred during Earth's history. Humanity is currently in the midst of a sixth, human-induced great mass extinction of plant and animal life (e.g., Alroy 2008; Jackson 2008; Lewis 2006; McDaniel and Borton 2002; Rockstrom et al. 2009; Rohr et al. 2008; Steffen, Crutzen, and McNeill 2007; Thomas et al. 2004;…

The author has been in education long enough to remember the bright orange stickers above every light switch reminding them to turn off the lights during the energy crisis of the 1970s. He remembers the TV commercial scanning piles of loose garbage along the highways, then panning out to show a tear rolling down the cheek of a Native American.…

To engage students in a real-world issue (Bransford, Brown, and Cocking 2000) that affects their communities, the author designed an entire unit to investigate air pollution in their home state, Connecticut. The unit's goal is to understand how the use of resources, such as fossil fuels, might affect their quality of life. Through this unit,…

In this paper, we argue that two key trends--an unfolding ecological crisis and a reduction in the amount of (cheap) energy available to society--bring into question both the relevance and the resilience of existing educational systems, requiring us to rethink both the content and the form of education in general, and peace education in…

This paper is part of an extensive study of secondary school students' preconceived ideas about climate change. Here, we undertake a survey in the province of Valencia (Spain) to ascertain secondary school students' notions of the causes and consequences of climate change. Results show, among other things, that students clearly relate the misuse…

A classroom of eighteen fourth and fifth graders in the Columbus, Ohio Public School system successfully evaluated how people obtain fossil fuels, how they are limited in nature, and how they can develop renewable energy solutions. Students modeled oil-drilling using: chocolate syrup, rice cereal, a baster, and a clear container. Chocolate oil…

An assessment of the state of the environment in selected nations is presented. Criteria such as water, land, noise, chemicals, and wildlife were considered in arriving at conclusions concerning world trends in environmental quality. (RE)

There should be a "shifting of emphasis from fossil fuel to nuclear systems as quickly as possible," but with a major change in the design of reactor systems to enable more efficient use of the total energy produced. Waste heat may be used for agriculture. (AL)

The American energy crisis is real in that our supplies of fuel which can meet standards imposed on utility emissions are short, and their price is high. It is artificial in that many of the standards could be partially relaxed, and cheaper fuel used by utilities without significant public insult. ...Nuclear power from fission is our best bet."…

A collection of forms is provided, each form collecting information on teaching activities relating to a separate environmental education concept. The collection of inventories is designed to: (1) assist teachers in assessing the adequacy of instruction in terms of student conceptual understanding; (2) coordinate scope and sequence of…

A variety of socio-economic criteria are suggested for the choice of how best to utilize energy resources. One of the most significant of these criteria is the prediction and evaluation of existing and potential human health effects of recovery and usage of various energy resources. Suggestions are made for incorporation of these methods in site…

To meet energy needs, the World's energy base must be broadly diversified. This diversification, including such possibilities as fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, geothermal, tidal and aeolian energy, must proceed without undue environmental damage and be economically feasible. Compromises between energy, economics and the environment will have to be…