Green futures begin early: a case study of preschool children’s waste-related environmental knowledge and attitudes

This study aimed to examine the how a teaching intervention implemented in a preschool setting influenced children’s knowledge about the importance of protecting the environment, their awareness of recycling, and their active participation in environmental protection through specifically designed educational activities.To achieve this goal, 25 children aged 5–6 years (12 girls and 13 boys) participated in the study, which was designed as a case study within qualitative research methods. Over an eight-week implementation period, Environmental Education (EE) activities were conducted once a week at a preschool in Ankara, Turkey. To collect data, a semi-structured interview form was utilized, and the data was analyzed using content analysis. The research findings revealed that environmental education significantly enhanced children’s understanding of the importance of environmental protection. Their awareness of recycling increased, and they became more actively engaged in environmental conservation, particularly in maintaining cleanliness and promoting recycling practices.