A educação ambiental e a conscientização acerca da problemática do lixo, trabalhadas no 4º e 5º anos da Escola Rocha Pombo

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the school environment and the knowledge that the students had on issues related to environmental education, production and garbage care, as well as the development of environmental awareness. The sample consisted of 38 students, with 23 being of the 4th year and 15 of the 5th year of the Rocha Pombo State High School, located in the city of Crissiumal - RS, soutern of Brazil. The research was developed in six stages, starting with a questionnaire about the care that is taken at home with the garbage, a second questionnaire was applied, to identify the previous knowledge of the students about what they consider garbage and its destination. The research was sequenced with a walk through the schoolyard, where a huge amount of garbage was collected, making the students reflect on the attitude of throwing garbage on the floor. To complement this practice, a research was carried out on the origin and time of decomposition of the materials found during the tour. The next activity to be carried out was the making of recycled paper, which was developed from the remains of papers collected in a trash bin in the classroom. To finish the work, a questionnaire was applied to verify if the work developed contributed to the students' environmental awareness. The analysis of the data indicated that the great majority of the students already had an environmental thought but, lacking posture and attitudes, it was noticed that there was a maturation about this posture, having greater critical argument and feeling responsible for their actions.