The perception of the environment through drawing in early childhood education. The case of the wetland of the Albufera in Valencia (Spain)

Abstract

AbstractSometimes, contact with the natural environment is not commonly present at school. Often, students are involved in activities considering distant environments which do not correspond to the reality of the environment in which they live. The aim of this research is to find out whether kindergarten aged children who live in the Natural Park of the Albufera in Valencia (Spain), have a feeling of belonging and perceive this characteristic natural space as part of their environment. An activity was proposed to the students in which they had to draw nearby places of their liking. From the analysis of these artworks, six thematic categories were established, two of them corresponding to a perception of the natural environment. Other subcategories also emerged during the analysis process. The results obtained seem to indicate that children from the areas located in the Natural Park of the Albufera in Valencia, have difficulties in perceiving this natural space as an important part of their environment, despite the fact it is so closely linked to their lives.