Reading social stories in the community: A promising intervention for promoting children's environmental knowledge and behavior in Jordan

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, education in various forms has been used as a tool to change values and behavior in children regarding the environment. This study reports findings from the We Love Reading Program that utilizes the reading of Social Stories in various communities in Jordan to address the environmental problems of Jordan. Results indicated the effectiveness of this informal educational intervention showing a significant increase in children's knowledge about environmental issues and a positive change in behavior related to electricity and water consumption and littering, as reported by parents. The authors provide several recommendations on how Social Stories and appropriate curriculum can be used in schools and community to create awareness in students regarding environmental issues.

KEYWORDS:

• electricity and water consumption
• environmental education
• littering
• social stories
• We Love Reading

Acknowledgment

This intervention was supported by the Public Action for Water, Energy, and Environment Project (PAP). PAP is a Jordanian nation-wide education and communication program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Jordan and implemented by ECODIT LLC. ECODIT is an international development firm working with governments, businesses, and local communities to advance environmentally- and socially responsible development around the world.

Funding

This research was funded by the USAID grant to Ecodit for the Program Action Project (PAP).