"DISCOVERING THE CERRADO: an educational game to help promote scientific literacy"
Biology teaching. Natural Sciences and their Technologies. Teaching materials. Scientific literacy. Cerrado phytophysiognomies.
Biology plays a crucial role in everyday life, contributing to the development of social identity and the understanding of biological phenomena. The game “Unraveling the Cerrado” was developed to provide an interactive and playful experience for high school students. Aligned with the National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC), this study proposes the use of educational games as a tool to promote scientific literacy, with a focus on the Cerrado biome due to its significance and environmental challenges. The methodology involves the development and implementation of the game in four second-year high school classes at a school in Valparaíso de Goiás, GO, employing a differentiated approach to stimulate student participation and understanding. Data collection and analysis, following a qualitative approach, encompassed observations during and after the game, utilizing field diaries, questionnaires, and focus groups. The interpretation of the results was carried out trough content analysis. The findings demonstrate that the game "Unraveling the Cerrado" successfully achieved its objectives by promoting an understanding of the biome and effectively incorporating specific vocabulary aligned with the BNCC. The game's contribution to scientific literacy is noteworthy, aligning with the axes proposed by Sasseron and Carvalho (2008). The conclusion emphasizes the relevance of the game as an innovative pedagogical tool, underscoring the continued use of playful strategies in biology teaching. Thus, the game not only met its development and application objectives but also provided an enriching educational experience, consolidating its role within the context of the BNCC and scientific literacy.