Fifth Graders' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Toward Habitat Loss and Landscape Fragmentation

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Abstract
Education and outreach programs are important strategies for natural resource managers working to maintain and restore ecological processes and improve wildlife habitat. Program effectiveness can be improved by better understanding young people's relationships to wildlife-habitat issues. A Student Opinion Survey was designed to measure student knowledge, attitudes, and environmentally responsible behaviors (ERB) toward habitat loss and landscape fragmentation. The Survey was tested with fifth-grade students (n = 464) in nine Minnesota schools. Student attitude scores demonstrated pro-environmental attitudes (4.05/5.00 scaled score). Self-reported frequency of practice of ERB was significantly lower than all other categories (2.40/5.00 scaled score). Practicing ERB is less familiar to fifth-grade students than are caring for and being willing to take action on wildlife-habitat issues. This article demonstrates the opportunity to reconnect students with local wildlife using curricula that utilize the schoolyard as a resource for outdoor, extended study of the local environment.

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