PAPER ID: Vol. IV Issue I (April to June 2026 ) /19-26 /3
AUTHOR : Shweta Sharma
TITLE: REPRESENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS: A CONTENT ANALYSIS FROM CHHATTISGARH
ABSTRACT: Environmental education at the primary stage plays an important role in developing children’s understanding of their surroundings and encouraging sensitivity towards nature and natural resources. School textbooks are significant instruments through which curricular objectives are translated into concrete learning experiences. The present study examines the representation of environmental themes in the Environmental Studies (EVS) textbooks prescribed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Chhattisgarh, for Classes III, IV and V. The study employs qualitative content analysis to identify major environmental themes and examine the ways in which they are presented through textual content, activities, examples, questions and local contexts. The analysis focuses on natural resources, water, air, soil, plants, animals, forests, agriculture, biodiversity, pollution, conservation and environmental hazards. Particular attention is given to the extent to which environmental education is connected with children’s everyday experiences and the ecological and socio-cultural context of Chhattisgarh. The analysis reveals a gradual progression from basic environmental awareness and observation in Class III towards greater emphasis on local resources, biodiversity, environmental problems and conservation in Classes IV and V. The textbooks also demonstrate a strong experiential orientation through observation, collection, experimentation, surveys and interaction with family and community members. The study concludes that the selected textbooks provide substantial opportunities for environmental learning by integrating environmental knowledge with children’s everyday experiences and local contexts.
KEYWORDS: Environmental Education, Environmental Themes, Environmental Studies, Textbooks, Content Analysis, Primary Education, Chhattisgarh
