The contribution of active methodologies to strengthening environmental education in elementary schools

Abstract

This article, entitled "THE CONTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE METHODOLOGIES TO STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS” addresses the importance of innovative pedagogical methodologies aimed at promoting Environmental Education, specifically within the elementary school context. The main objective is to investigate the significance of active methodologies for Environmental Education in elementary education. Understanding the practices employed, their advantages, and limitations is essential to enhance teacher training, improve teaching quality, and inspire more effective public education policies. The central research question focuses on the role and relevance of active methodologies in Environmental Education in elementary schools. To achieve this, a bibliographic methodology was adopted, involving a careful review of academic articles and documents published in the last five years in Portuguese-language sources, retrieved from relevant databases in the fields of Environmental Education, Active Methodologies, and Elementary Education. The review aimed to analyze pedagogical methodologies and didactic resources used in Environmental Education, seeking to understand their contributions to student engagement and effective learning. Results indicate that active methodologies, such as project-based learning, problem-solving, and investigative activities, are widely recommended and have a positive impact on the construction of environmental knowledge. The discussion emphasizes that, despite the potential of these approaches, challenges remain related to teacher training, lack of specific materials, and structural limitations of schools, highlighting the need for focused public policies and ongoing educator professional development. In summary, this article contributes to understanding the most effective pedagogical methodologies in Environmental Education for elementary schools, highlighting the necessity of integrated actions among educators, communities, and administrators to strengthen environmental culture in schools.