Geoparque Uberaba-Terra de Gigantes: reflexões e proposições acerca da educação ambiental na matriz curricular da rede municipal de ensino

Abstract

Among the premises for the formalization of UNESCO Geoparks are the conservation of the Geological and Historical-Cultural Heritage, as well as educating and teaching the public about environmental issues. In this sense, Environmental Education (EE) stands as an interface between the conservation of the existing natural and cultural heritage, in the search for a generation that is aware of its role in the space in which it lives, attributing value to it. Considering that EE can be the main practice of geoconservation and conservation in the Uberaba Geopark, this research aims to understand how it is inserted in the municipal curricular matrix of Elementary School (EF) I and II of SEMED, and how it is approached in practice by the teachers. In view of this reality, for the development of this research, two corpus surveys were adopted as procedures: reading and analysis of the curricular matrix of EF I and II of SEMED of the 9 subjects: Portuguese Language, Mathematics, History, Geography, Sciences, Physical Education, Art, Religious Education, English Language and the questionnaire applied to teachers from 1st to 9th year of the municipal network. By the thematic survey related to the geopark in the curriculum of the (EF), important curricular constructions were found in some components, in the case of History, Geography and Sciences, as well as the total absence in the English Language component. The Biodiversity category was present in 6 of the 9 analyzed disciplines, the Geodiversity and Geological Heritage category only in 3, and the Historic-cultural Heritage category in 6 disciplines. The varied themes of the EA category unrelated to the geopark were present in all components, except for the English language. As for the questionnaire, it was possible to survey the teachers' knowledge about EE and which practices have been carried out in their daily activities. More than half of the teachers (55%) believe that EE is extremely important for the preservation of the historic-cultural heritage of the Uberaba Geopark and about 85% of the respondents say that they identify EE in the curriculum. As for the knowledge of topics related to the Geopark (geological and historical-cultural heritage), 75% of the respondents know or have heard about the Uberaba Geopark – Land of Giants. However, most respondents (62.5%) are not aware of courses, events, lectures and the like that deal with the subject. The investigation of the presence/absence of themes linked to a curriculum of an “aspiring” geopark with UNESCO, as well as the practices of teachers in the municipal network, brings the urgency of reflecting on how the education of children and young people who will benefit from of these patrimonies and will give dynamics to it, popularizing it and giving it value. In this way, the continuous discussion and reformulation of EE practices aimed at the geopark is essential both in the curricula, and outside it, in society, the continuous training of teachers, appreciation campaigns in the scientific environment through events, courses, among other actions.