GeoEco
Vol 12, No 1 (2026): GeoEco January 2026

BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: LESSONS FROM SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL PRACTICES IN INDONESIA

Novika Adi Wibowo (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Sumarmi Sumarmi (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Alfyananda Kurnia Putra (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Sigit Wibowo (Department of Elementary and Preschool Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
A Riyan Rahman Hakiki (Geography Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin)
Batchuluun Yembuu (Department Geography, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mongolian National University of Education, Ulaanbaatar)
Annisa Anna Firdausi (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Aura Julita Andiansyah (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Intan Pratiwi (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)
Dedy Zain Mochtar Asri (Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jan 2026

Abstract

Pollution and climate change are mostly caused by human activities that do not consider the environment or implement sustainable approaches. Thus, being conscious of the environment is an important part of teaching children the way to act in a manner that is good for the environment from an early age. This study attempts to assess the extent of environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among students in primary schools in SDN Pati Kidul 01, Indonesia, which implemented the Adiwiyata School Program. This study utilized a mixed-method approach including an exploratory sequential design, incorporating field observations, questionnaires, and documentation of school activities. The findings demonstrate that Adiwiyata programs such as "Healthy Classroom, Healthy Student", "Green School", and "Friday Cleanup Day" play significant roles in fostering students' environmental awareness through habituation of caring attitudes, actual actions, and environmental issue knowledge. Even while the majority of students exhibited strong pro-environmental behavior, there were still some small conceptual gaps in their knowledge of environmental issues. These findings show that incorporating ecological education into the regular school day successfully fosters a sense of environmental responsibility, establishing the Adiwiyata Program as a strategic plan for producing a future generation that is environmentally conscious.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

GeoEco

Publisher

Subject

Earth & Planetary Sciences Education Environmental Science Social Sciences

Description

GeoEco is a journal covering all fields of education and science related to geography and the environment. The purpose of writing this journal are to reveal facts, problems and problem solving that can be used as input for Government, institutions, society and individual.The subject matter of the ...