Inserção do caramujo-africano (achatina fulica) no currículo de ciências da natureza visando à contextualização do saber

Abstract

This research originated from a daily problem faced by the research teacher regarding the difficulty of building and maintaining a vegetable garden in the school environment due to the presence of the African snail (Achatina fulica). The mollusk proved to be an obstacle, since this invasive species, present in the environment, causes diseases and environmental damage and its disposal must be done cautiously, so as not to cause contamination. In this sense, this research is guided by the following question: how is it possible to address knowledge about the African snail (Achatina fulica) in the Natural Sciences curriculum so that it raises awareness and enables more contextualized teaching? In order to answer this question, the general objective of this work is to develop, apply and evaluate a didactic sequence supported by the Three Pedagogical Moments (3MP) that takes the African snail as a contextualizing theme for approaching Natural Sciences content in the 7th grade of elementary school. The didactic intervention was carried out with 35 students from a state public school, developed in 13 meetings, totaling approximately 11 hours of class. The research developed is of a qualitative nature and descriptive analysis, and as data production instruments, questionnaires, the researcher teacher's logbook and materials made by the students were used. The educational product that accompanies this dissertation is a pedagogical booklet, which contains a didactic sequence structured on the premise of the 3MP, with the objective of supporting Science teachers in the knowledge about Achatina fulica, aiming for a more contextualized teaching-learning process. The results showed that the didactic sequence proved to be viable because it is easy to apply in any school environment, even if it has limited resources. It was also noticeable, through related studies, that this research has a consolidated differential due to the fact that the participating students did not remain only as one of the elements of development of the study, but rather as active co-actors in the dissemination of information and external mobilizers of social transformation. The students raised awareness in their community within the events of the school unit and the research. The educational product is freely accessible and is available for download on the website of the Postgraduate Program in Science and Mathematics Teaching at the University of Passo Fundo and on the EduCapes portal, at the link http://educapes.capes.gov.br/handle/capes/748054.