Abordagem investigativa dos impactos ambientais na Lagoa do Cajueiro como estratégia de ensino de ecologia

Abstract

The need to relate the teaching of Ecology to the daily life of students is indisputable, emphasizing the conservation of the environment and its sustainability. Working on this theme at school, seeks to form conscientious and critical citizens in relation to their actions in the face of nature. Studies aimed at investigating conditions in a local area can lead students to understand general ecological concepts. Teaching through investigation has a fundamental role in this process, since it challenges them to mobilize their previous knowledge to question, raise hypotheses, seek solutions to problems encountered in the environment in which they live. The objective of this research was to promote the teaching of Ecology through an investigative proposal of the environmental problems of Lagoa do Cajueiro, in the municipality of Joaquim Pires - Piauí. Thirty students from the 3rd year of high school, morning shift, in a state public school, located in that municipality, participated in the research. Initially, a questionnaire was applied to analyze the participants' prior knowledge, and, at the end, another questionnaire was applied to diagnose the knowledge acquired after the development of the project. After the analysis of the first questionnaire, it was noticed that, in general, the students present knowledge about the themes of Ecology. In the theoretical exposition of the contents in the classroom, some arguments were presented by the students regarding the environmental impacts observed in Lagoa do Cajueiro. Subsequently, a field class was held in Lagoa and, from the observation along the stretches traveled, they were able to visualize the degradation of the environment, demonstrating concern with the current state of the ecosystem. It was found, therefore, that leaving the classroom for natural environments brings a different view of students, observing closely how human actions directly affect the environment. In the classes that followed the visit to the field, there were some moments of discussion, in the classroom, about how they perceived the current conditions of the Lagoon and what could be the causes and consequences of what was observed, and what measures should be taken. to improve these conditions. Then, they produced materials to exhibit to the school community. It was noticed, with these activities, that they understood the real environmental conditions in which the Lagoa do Cajueiro is located, but it is still necessary that they also understand the importance of putting this knowledge into practice, reflecting ways to change or minimize the problems observed. Three products were made, being a sequence of investigative teaching (SIT), a booklet with concepts related to Ecology and the environmental impacts observed in Lagoa do Cajueiro, and a didactic game that can contribute to the teaching-learning process of this theme.