Environmental education for children in Taiwan: Importance, purpose and teaching methods

Abstract

There is an increase in social issues in terms of the use of technology for environmental protection, energy, reproduction, food, ethics and morality. It is necessary to take advantage of the positive benefits of technological development and decrease its negative impact on the environment. In this regard, children must be taught appropriate responses to the environment. This should be taken as a key element of environmental education. Furthermore, environmental ethics is a core concept in environmental education for children. Environmental education seeks to teach children ethical environmental beliefs so that future citizens are environmentally aware. This paper uses a documentary analysis to show the importance and purpose of environmental education and explores the teaching methods for environmental education for children in Taiwan. The teaching methods of learning environmental awareness to children in environmental education lessons are: (1) using picture books, (2) watching eco-related films, (3) drama teaching and learning, (4) visiting environmental sites, (5) inviting experts to give presentations, (6) assigning homework that has environment-related topics, (7) cultivating critical thinking about the use of learning strategies in environmental education and (8) learning strategies that involve problem-solving.