Análise descritiva do uso da horta escolar como um recurso para alfabetização científica

Abstract

This research consists in the planning and execution of a methodological approach with an emphasis on science education, for students from classes of 7th grade of Elementary School from an experimental life held in a public school of the city of Bento Gonçalves (RS), which aimed to evaluate the use of the school vegetable-garden as a resource for scientific literacy. The analysis was based on the Cognitive Development Theory of Piaget, which points out that the individual learns manipulating the object of knowledge and through didactic activities that are appropriate to the stage of his/her own cognitive development. And also in the social-historical-cultural Theory of the development of the higher mental functions of Vygotsky, which emphasizes social interaction and values the school as a privileged space for scientific development. The choice of these two theories is due to the fact that both are constructivist and complement each other by promoting a different conception of school and teacher action. The choice and use of the school vegetable-garden, like a science lab, can provide the scientific literacy by promoting the participation and concentration of students in the proposed activities, relating the Science and Mathematics contents. Thus, we sought to develop instruments that guide the planning activities and promote the existence and companionship of the students. In this study, the school vegetable-garden turned out to be a facilitating resource of learning, as it favored the doing and follow-up of many experiments performed by the students. Such experiments, supervised by the teacher, were able to develop skills and competences that stimulated the construction of new knowledge, from growing vegetables in different experimental conditions. The results suggest that this is a facilitating resource for an interdisciplinary approach in education. The interaction with classmates and the activities in work team determine the participation and involvement of students, contributing to the learning and scientific literacy and, therefore, resulting in school success.