Effectiveness of Activity Supported Earthquake Awareness Education Program in Primary School Children: "I Know What I Need to Do, I'm Not Falling Even If We Shake" Project.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to enhance the knowledge base of primary school children regarding earthquake preparedness through the implementation of an activity-based earthquake awareness education program. The study was conducted as pre-posttest semi-experimental design with one group of 333 children in a primary school between January and May 2024. A Descriptive Information Form and Earthquake Awareness Knowledge Level Form were the data collection tools. The children were provided with a 6-week (modules) education program. Measurements were made before and after the education. The mean age of the children was 7.16±0.73 years (6-9), 56.8% were girls, 43.2% were boys, and 25.8% were second-grade children. Earthquake Awareness Knowledge Level Form total score was higher after the education (18.31±1.52) than before (15.51±3.73) (t=-16.144, p<0.001). The study revealed an increase in children's knowledge regarding appropriate behaviors in the context of earthquakes, encompassing actions to be taken before, during, and after such events. Modular education and applied activities are effective in increasing children's knowledge levels in the context of teaching a concept such as earthquake preparedness, where the acquisition of life-based skills is of paramount importance.