• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.227-238
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• 2021

Ecocentric worldview is considered as worldview that overcomes present environment problems and increases animal right. This study explores the formation of an ecocentric worldview for 4th-6th graders based on Peter Singer's research that divides the development of morality into family-centered, species-centered, and ecocentric worldview. The subjects of this study were 77 4th graders, 84 5th graders, and 91 6th graders in Daegu Metro- politan City. The results of surveying students' worldview based on the questionnaire developed by dividing into 6 questions are as follows. In most of the items in grades 4-6, the rate of formation of a species-centered worldview or a family-centered worldview was higher than that of an ecocentric worldview. However, in the case of 6th grade students was significantly higher than in other grades because they learned lesson on wolf restoration in the 5th grade science class. This may be seen as an effect of education, but since the ecocentric worldview did not appear high in other questions, it is reasonable to assume that 6th graders simply recited what they learned rather than forming a true ecocentric worldview. Therefore, there is a need for education that can help students to think, judge, and act on the basis of the ecocentric worldview consistently in any situation, rather than just memorizing the knowledge of the ecocentric worldview learned.