Students perspectives on water literacy: The case of 8th grade students

This study aims to explore the perspectives of 8th-grade students on water literacy. A qualitative research design was employed with 15 students from four public middle schools located in the western part of Türkiye. Data were collected through a researcher-designed semi-structured interview form and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that students were personally aware of the importance of water conservation, emphasizing the need to avoid waste and prevent pollution. However, they lacked sufficient knowledge of key concepts such as water literacy and World Water Day. In addition, students stated that most of their knowledge about water-related issues was gained in science classes, with limited emphasis in social studies courses. These results indicate a gap between students’ environmental awareness and their conceptual understanding of water literacy. It is recommended that the social studies curriculum include systematic content and skills related to water literacy to help students develop both awareness and conceptual understanding of water as a vital resource for a sustainable and eco-friendly life.