The focus of this study was to identify and describe environmental preconceptions held by pre-service elementary teachers about three issues : greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acid rain. Two hundred and twenty nine pre-service elementary teachers participated in this study. A 36 question survey was created by one of the authors. The questions focused on the cause, effects, and interactions of three environmental issues : greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acid rain. Pre-service elementary teachers answered the questions on a Likert scale. An analysis of the survey data indicated that the majority of pre-service elementary teachers possess an array of incorrect conceptions about the causes and effects of the greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion, and acid rain. and also many pre-service elementary teachers thought that there were causal relationships among the increase in greenhouse effect, the destruction of ozone layer, and the increase of acid rain.

• 백남권(진주교육대학교 과학교육과) | Nam-Gwon Back Corresponding Author