Influence of Excursions Approach On Learner Participation in Environmental Conservation Activities Among Pre-Primary Learners in Kaiti Constituency, Makueni County, Kenya.

Abstract

Learner participation in environmental conservation activities is key in ensuring learners gain skills of conserving the environment during their pre-primary years. In ensuring that learners participate in environmental conservation activities, teachers are expected to use instructional approaches that promote active participation of learners. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of excursions approach on learner participation in environmental conservation activities. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population of the study comprised of 119 headteachers, all the parents of pre-primary children and 238 pre-primary school teachers in Kaiti constituency. The sample unit was 65 headteachers, 30 parents of pre-primary children and 131 pre-primary teachers of the public pre- primary schools in Kaiti constituency. Data was collected using two research instruments which included questionnaires for pre-primary teachers and the headteachers and interview guides for parents. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically based on the research objective. Quantitative data was coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0. The study hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using Chi- Square. The findings of the study demonstrated that excursions approach had significant influence on learner participation in environmental conservation activities. The findings of the study may benefit teachers, curriculum developers and policy makers in ensuring that pre-primary learners are taught using instructional approaches that promote learners’ participation in environmental conservation activities. The study recommends that the use of excursions approach should be promoted since it improves learner participation.