Pedagogical Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Behaviours among Primary Education Students: A School Intervention Study

Introduction: Environmental education has become a fundamental component in fostering environmentally responsible behaviours among students, particularly in school contexts where values and sustainable practices can be effectively developed. In ecologically rich regions such as Caquetá, Colombia, the implementation of pedagogical strategies that promote environmental awareness and behavioural change is especially relevant. Methodology: The study followed a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design, involving a sample of 34 primary education students from Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Educational Institution in Florencia. The intervention incorporated active pedagogical strategies based on experiential learning, recycling activities, the use of reusable materials, and participation in school environmental projects. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire validated by expert judgement and reliability analysis.Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and ecological responsibility after the intervention. Additionally, an increase in students’ active participation in environmental activities and a greater willingness to adopt sustainable habits in daily life were observed.Conclusions: It is concluded that active and contextualised pedagogical strategies effectively promote sustainable behaviours in primary education students. The intervention proved to be effective in generating positive behavioural changes, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental education as a cross-cutting element within the school curriculum, particularly in ecologically sensitive contexts.