USING PICTURE BOOK AND DIALOGUE TO RAISE KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Abstract

This descriptive study addressed the use of a picture book and dialogue approach in raising kindergarten children critical thinking about environmental education. This research used qualitative approached with observations and interviews as the research tools to collect data. In this research the kindergarten teachers had to read and show a picture book to their kindergarten students. Then, there was a dialogue about environmental education between the early children and the teachers. The teachers had to prepare give some questions about the pictures in the book that can raise early students thinking skills. Teachers also had to ask their early children to tell what the children saw in the book. A big book with some pictures about garbage or caring for plants were provided. The teachers also had to remind their early students about Indonesia that has many environmental problems. In this study, the kindergarten teachers did a discussion with their early students about ways to protect our environment. The teachers also asked the one student to read the book by herself and then, asked her to tell the content of the book.  The researchers observed and recorded how the behavior and words spoken by children when they were discuss and did the dialogues with the teacher. Results indicated that the use of a picture book then followed by dialoging can raise the kindergarten students’ critical thinking.