Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course

Lauren E. Wagner

doi:10.29333/ijese/16570

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Lauren E. Wagner ¹ ^*

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¹ Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, The University of North Alabama, Florence, AL, USA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This qualitative case study explored how elementary preservice teachers engaged in environmental education (EE) during a science methods course. Interviews with the preservice teachers and an analysis of their written responses revealed that they both demonstrated environmental knowledge and concern about a community-based environmental issue they learned about in the course. However, they engaged in action and advocacy about the issue differently within the community. Suggestions for future instruction in science methods courses include additional instructional approaches that integrate action and advocacy-oriented EE coursework, which can strengthen elementary preservice teachers’ funds of knowledge, critical consciousness, and an understanding of systemic factors that contribute to community-based environmental issues.

Keywords

elementary
environmental education
preservice teachers
community issues
science methods

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED, Volume 21, Issue 3, 2025, Article No: e2511

https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

Publication date: 07 Jul 2025

Article Views: 26

Article Downloads: 11

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How to cite this article

APA

Wagner, L. E. (2025). Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 21(3), e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

Vancouver

Wagner LE. Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course. INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED. 2025;21(3):e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

AMA

Wagner LE. Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course. INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED. 2025;21(3), e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

Chicago

Wagner, Lauren E.. "Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course". Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education 2025 21 no. 3 (2025): e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

Harvard

Wagner, L. E. (2025). Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 21(3), e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570

MLA

Wagner, Lauren E. "Exploring Lake Endor: Elementary preservice teachers’ environmental literacy in a science methods course". Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, vol. 21, no. 3, 2025, e2511. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16570