摘要：The current research examined the effectiveness of seven-week nature-based education program on young children’s affinity toward nature (biophilia). The sample of the study is comprised of 40 preschools children between the age of 60 to 66 month-old residing in Mersin, Turkey. Children biophilic tendencies were measured before and after the intervention to gague the effect of their regular interaction with nature and play in such an environment. Children’s biophilia were measured using a visually supported scale that included both biophilic and non-biophilic items. A quasi experimental design with one group pre-test and post-test design were employed to measure the difference in biophilic tendencies before and after the invervention was given. The results showed that a short-term nature-based education program in a natural area was effective in terms of increasing children’s affinity toward nature. The improvement in children’s level of biophilia after the implementation of the program was statistically significant.
关键词：Environmental education program; nature-based education program; early childhood environmental education; affinity toward nature; biophilia; quasi-experimental design; one group pre-test post-test design
