Exploring a Multimedia Climate Change Text for Young Children: Insights From a Multimodal Content Analysis

• In Event: Critical Discourse in Media: Impacts on Learning and Cultural Politics

Abstract

Multimodal environmental texts are important resources for teachers to teach about environmental issues. However, research about multimedia climate change texts (MCCTs) for young children is limited, especially guidelines for selecting MCCTs and what factors teachers should attend to when choosing MCCTs. Using multimodal content analysis, this study analyzed a musical cartoon to explore what content is conveyed and how the modes of communication depict climate change in an MCCT. The findings showed that although the MCCT had moments when it effectively communicated about climate change, overall the representation of climate change was vague, particularly with climate change solutions and action. The findings provide insights into what factors teachers and schools need to attend to as they select MCCTs for students.

Authors

• Sarah D Reid, Illinois State University

• Robby Anggriawan, Illinois State University