The Effects of a Ploking-Based Environmental Education Program on the Environmental Attitudes of Elementary School Students

This study aimed to explore the impact of a ploking-based environmental education program on the environmental attitudes of elementary school students. Thirteen sixth-grade students from an elementary school in U-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were recruited for the study. The program was conducted over 20 sessions over three months. Both the experimental and comparison groups participated in pre- and post-tests using an environmental attitude scale. In addition, qualitative data, including student portfolios, researcher observations, and interviews, were collected and analyzed to support the quantitative findings. The results of this research can be summarized as follows: Firstly, a 20-session environmental education program tailored to the sixth-grade level was developed based on the 2015 revised national curriculum and textbook analysis. Secondly, the program was designed to be practical and activity-centered, combining various subjects, such as Korean, social studies, ethics, art, and practical arts. It emphasized the cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of environmental attitudes. Thirdly, although no statistically significant difference was found between the post-test results of the experimental and comparison groups, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in all three domains—cognitive, affective, and behavioral—when comparing pre- and post-tests. This indicates that the ploking-based program had a positive effect on students’ environmental attitudes. Finally, the analysis of qualitative data indicated that students expressed increased interest and responsibility regarding environmental issues and internalized eco-friendly behaviors through the ploking activities. These findings suggest that ploking-based environmental education can effectively foster changes in environmental attitudes among elementary students and highlight the potential for implementing practical, action-oriented environmental education programs in schools.