The Importance of Learning about Natural Disasters: Educating Citizens in Primary School Classrooms in the Province of Alicante

Abstract

Natural disasters represent a growing global threat and are closely linked to climate change. Therefore, this issue must be addressed in the classroom to promote education that encourages prevention, resilience and greater collective awareness of these phenomena. The aim of this research is to design, implement and evaluate a teaching proposal for primary education focused on teaching about natural disasters and their increase linked to climate change. The teaching proposal, entitled Climanova: Exploring the Power of Nature in Times of Change, analyses its impact on the development of critical thinking, citizen participation and conceptual understanding among 5th-year students at a school in the province of Alicante. Methodologically, a mixed design was applied by administering a pre-test and post-test questionnaire validated by expert judgement to a sample of 24 students. The results show a significant improvement in the understanding of natural risks, a greater ability to propose viable solutions, and a more accurate use of technical vocabulary. In addition, there was an increase in students' perception of their role as active agents, as well as an awareness of the impact of climate change on their environment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the need to actively and contextually integrate education on natural hazards into the primary school curriculum, focusing on active methodologies that strengthen critical thinking and civic awareness, thereby contributing to the development of a more resilient generation that is better prepared to respond to real environmental challenges. Likewise, the approach of the proposal is articulated from an interdisciplinary and environmentally aware perspective, connecting Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Values Education in order to understand risk and act responsibly.