The Effect of Creative Drama Method on 5th Grade Students' Life Competencies and Environmental Sensitivities: Example of Human and Environment Unit

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the creative drama method on students' life skills and environmental sensitivity within the "Human and Environment" unit in a fifth-grade science course. A quantitative, experimental approach was adopted, utilizing a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest model. The sample comprised 29 fifth-grade students from a middle school in a large metropolitan area. Creative drama activities were conducted with these students, and the application scenarios, aligned with the science curriculum's objectives for the "Human and Environment" unit, were developed by the researcher. The "Life Skills Scale" and "Environmental Sensitivity Scale" were administered to students before and after the intervention. Findings demonstrated that the creative drama method had a strong impact on communication and teamwork skills as part of life skills within the unit. Additionally, a moderate effect was observed on communication skills, with a minor effect on decision-making skills. The study also found a significant improvement in students' overall life skills and environmental awareness levels. Based on these results, it is recommended that teachers incorporate more creative drama activities into their lesson planning.