• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.125-147
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• 2024

Objective: This study aims to implement an ecological transition education program for young children, based on a project approach, to investigate its effectiveness in enhancing sustainable development awareness, ecological literacy, and problem-solving skills. Methods: In this study, 56 five-year-old children from a preschool in S City were assigned to either a quasi-experimental group or a control group, with 28 children in each group. The project-based ecological transition education program for young children was conducted from July 14 to September 15, 2023. The experimental group explored the themes of 'marine life' and 'pets and animal welfare,' while the control group focused on different topics. The research employed independent sample t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for data analysis. Results: The project-based ecological transition education program effectively enhanced young children's awareness of sustainable development, ecological literacy, and problem-solving skills. Conclusion/Implications: This study is significant in developing an integrated, project-based ecological transition education program within a play-centered curriculum. It demonstrates how sustainable values can be effectively incorporated into play. Furthermore, the findings can serve as foundational data for implementing educational and childcare programs that nurture young children to become ecological citizens, leading sustainable futures.