O conceito de território no ensino de geografia: análises das suas concepções em duas escolas da rede pública da cidade Timon-MA

Abstract

This paper presents a study stemming from our interest in the conceptions of territory and the significance of the concept in discussions within the Brazilian geographic community, particularly in the context of Geography Education. Our overall objective is to analyze the conceptions of territory taught in the 7th grade of Elementary School in two public schools in the municipal network of Timon-Ma. We adopted an approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods, involving literature review, documentary research, and fieldwork, including the administration of questionnaires to students and interviews with teachers. Our findings reveal differences in students' perceptions regarding territory conceptions, with the prevalence of a political and naturalistic view in School A and an approach grounded in power relations in School B. Furthermore, we observed that students' conceptions are, to some extent, aligned with the content of the textbook, raising questions about the influence of these materials and educational policies on shaping students' perceptions of territory. We conclude that political and naturalistic approaches to territory are hegemonic conceptions present in our research. Therefore, we emphasize the need for a more in-depth analysis and additional discussions on the subject, as there are issues that still need to be explored for a broader understanding. We believe that future research can contribute to addressing the identified gaps in our study, enriching the field of Geography Education. Finally, we hope that our study adds to the discourse on Geography Education and territory, contributing to future research and fostering discussions on the importance of adopting a more comprehensive perspective on territory. This approach can benefit students, enabling them to have a broader understanding of territory and the various agents and factors influencing its configuration, beyond the strictly political or naturalistic perspective.