EXPLORATION OF TARDIGRADE BIODIVERSITY: AN ACTIVE APPROACH IN HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY
tardigrades, biodiversity, biology education
The scientific method can be approached in different ways in high school education. One of these ways is to include activities that directly involve the steps of observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and conclusion. Additionally, studying the environment and the living organisms found where students live can spark their interest and curiosity about the world around them. Tardigrades are organisms with a remarkable ability to survive in extreme conditions and have a ubiquitous distribution across various environments on Earth. These animals, also known as "water bears," are microscopic creatures that live in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, including inhospitable places such as deserts, glaciers, and even the vacuum of space. This project aims to develop an educational activity that involves the study of tardigrades by high school students. The students will have the opportunity to collect and observe tardigrades in moss samples gathered from areas around the school. Through this practical and meaningful experience in the field of biology, students will be encouraged to ask questions, formulate hypotheses, and analyze data. This will allow them to develop their scientific skills. The project also aims to spark students' interest in biology and environmental conservation. After the collection, students will record the number of tardigrades found in each sample to describe the abundance of these organisms in the region. An Illustrated Guide will be developed to assist teachers who are interested in this activity and wish to replicate it in their classrooms. We hope that the results of this work will contribute to the knowledge about tardigrades and that the activity will provide students with a rich and motivating experience, fostering their curiosity and interest in science and environmental preservation.