Karaelmas Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi / Karaelmas Journal of Educational Sciences 9 (2021) 285-305 International Refereed Journal / Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi Karaelmas Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi Karaelmas Journal of Educational Sciences https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/kebd Investigation of Middle School Students’ Perceptions of an Environmentally Friendly School through their Drawings 1 Sacide DALYAN 2 , Naim UZUN 3 Received: 26 November 2021, Accepted: 21 December 2021 ABSTRACT In the current study, it was aimed to describe the mental perceptions of the concept of environmentally friendly school by asking the middle school students who constituted the study group to design the environmentally friendly schools of their dreams. To this end, an answer to the question “How are middle school students’ perceptions of the concept of environmentally friendly school and how do they reflect it in their drawings?” was sought. Maximum variation sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used to determine the study group of the study, which used phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study was carried out with the participation of middle school students attending public schools located in different geographical regions (Central Anatolia Region, Black Sea Region, Marmara Region, South-eastern Anatolia Region, Mediterranean Region, Eastern Anatolia Region) in the 2020-2021 academic year. The study group is comprised of 303 (163 female and 140 male) students. In the study, the drawings of the students about the “environmentally friendly school” and their explanations about their drawings were used as data collection tools. The drawings and explanations of the students were subjected to content analysis. In light of the findings obtained as a result of the study, the students’ opinions about the concept of environmentally friendly school were gathered under nine themes. These themes are waste management, energy, saving, air, water, noise, food, environment and school design. The current study is believed to fill the gap in the relevant literature and provide guidance for future studies. Keywords: Environmentally friendly school, perception, drawings on environment, middle school students, phenomenology Ethical Committee Date / Number : Aksaray University Ethical Committee, 21 October 2020, No: 2020/09-58 EXTENDED ABSTRACT Purpose and Significance In order to survive for many years, we need to treat our environment well. Our environment is affected negatively or positively by the behaviours we exhibit. For a sustainable life, environmental education classes from pre-school to higher education should be delivered from a comprehensive perspective, awareness of environmental problems should be raised and environmental consciousness should be fostered (Öztarakcı, 2019). Individuals, particularly today’s children or students who will shape our future need to behave in an environmentally friendly manner. If environmental education given to children at an early age is taught through environmentally friendly plays and nature trips, it will cause them to develop positive attitudes towards the environment (Erten, 2005). As the quality of environmental education given in this way is increased, it will cause students to be aware of the problems they experience and show the necessary sensitivity. As a result, students with developed environmental personalities will 1 This study was presented as an Oral Presentation at the I. National Interdisciplinary Science Education Teachers Conference. 2 Graduate Student, Aksaray University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, sacide.akbulut@hotmail.com 0000-0003-4545- 0956 3 Prof. Dr. Aksaray University, Faculty of Education,naimuzun@yahoo.com 0000-0002-2304-7421