The Science Teachers’ Role in Developing Elementary Stage Students’ Abilities to Invest Environmental Raw Materials in Producing Handicrafts to Increase their Environmental Awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the role of Science teachers in developing elementary stage students’ abilities to invest in environmental raw materials in producing handicrafts to increase their environmental awareness. The descriptive survey method was used to achieve the study objective. The study sample consisted of a stratified random sample of (290) Science teachers in government primary schools in Najran region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection and consisted of (22) items distributed over three areas: planning, implementation, and evaluation, after verifying the indications of validity and reliability. The results showed that there is an average level in the responses of the study sample about the role of Science teachers in developing the abilities of elementary stage students to invest in environmental raw materials in producing handicrafts to increase their environmental awareness. Also, statistically significant differences existed in the responses of the study sample about the role of Science teachers in developing the abilities of elementary stage students to invest environmental raw materials in producing handicrafts to increase their environmental awareness due to the variables of years of experience in favor of the category ten years or more and educational qualification in favor of the postgraduates category. However, there were no statistically significant differences due to the gender variable. The study recommended the need to improve the average level of Science teachers in developing the abilities of elementary stage students to invest in raw materials in producing handicrafts to increase their environmental awareness. Those in charge of educational policies in the Ministry of Education must develop a strategic plan to raise the level of teachers’ competence and competence. Through this plan, they will be able to activate teaching practices (planning, implementation, and evaluation) to invest environmental raw materials in producing handicrafts to increase environmental awareness among students and enhance the value of students' love for the environment and attitudes toward preserving it.