Contextualizing Deforestation and Climate Change in Science 10 Curriculum

AUTHOR(S)

MAY CARCELLAR- ABRENCIA

ABSTRACT

— Climate change and deforestation remain pressing global concerns with profound implications for highly climate-vulnerable nations like the Philippines. This study explored the integration of climate change indicators and deforestation issues into the Grade 10 Science curriculum to enhance environmental awareness and engagement among students. The research specifically examined students’ environmental awareness levels, teachers’ instructional practices, and the contextual relevance of environmental topics in public secondary schools in Samar. An embedded mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to capture comprehensive insights from both students and teachers. The methodology involved administering structured surveys to 210 Grade 10 students and conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 16 Science teachers from five public secondary schools. Quantitative data were processed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis to extract recurring patterns and insights. Results revealed that students exhibited strong awareness of direct environmental impacts such as flooding, biodiversity loss, and health risks, yet showed limited understanding of environmental policy frameworks and institutional responses. Teachers demonstrated active integration of deforestation-related topics in their classes but reported challenges related to instructional resources, localized teaching materials, and professional development opportunities. Statistical analysis also indicated significant relationships between students’ demographic profiles and their levels of environmental awareness. The study concludes that strengthening environmental education through contextualized and locally relevant curriculum content is essential, particularly in climate-vulnerable communities. It recommends equipping educators with adequate teaching resources and professional training while fostering participatory, inquiry-based learning activities to enhance students’ environmental literacy and civic engagement. Keywords — climate change education, deforestation, environmental awareness, contextualized learning, mixed-methods research