RIPARY WOODS: INVESTIGATIVE JOURNEY IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR ELEMENTARY
EDUCATION
Environmental Education, Inquiry-Based Learning, Limnology, Elementary Education.
The teaching of Sciences has undergone a series of transformations that have brought the science
taught in schools closer to the science developed outside their walls. This process aims to provide students with the
ability to investigate the world like a scientist and discover what they learn. This process is called scientific literacy.
This approach has a great impact on shaping future citizens who are more engaged with the issues of their time and
is an important strategy for improving the quality of education. In elementary education, ecological topics mainly focus
on terrestrial ecosystems. Little attention is given to the functioning of freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers, lakes,
streams, and wetlands, and the role of riparian forests, even though these environments are extremely threatened.
The teaching of Environmental Sciences should also develop in students the ability to solve problems and take a political stance, while being closely connected to their reality. In this sense, it is crucial to develop teaching strategies that allow for a more critical and comprehensive approach to these topics. It is within this context that this study proposes a teaching strategy based on inquiry-based learning, focused on critical environmental education about riparian forests and freshwater ecosystems. The proposed didactic model and lesson sequence aim to contribute to a more comprehensive and critical education of students regarding these important habitats.