Instrumentation for the contextualized teaching of botany in schools in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

It is essential that teachers reduce the distance between the student's social context and the content of Biology, governing it in a dynamic way, leading the student to notice that the contents are part of everyday life and that it is possible to understand them, Thus, associating practice with theory. Being a discipline within Biology, Botany is one of its branches of paramount importance, which have as objects of study to assist in other areas of biology. In this context, Plant Morphology, which teaches the parts of plants and their relationships with environmental factors, becomes a facilitator in understanding, when taught in a contextualized way. In view of the above, this project aims to optimize the teaching-learning of the content of Plant Morphology for Elementary School II in the municipality of São Mateus-ES Brazil, through a didactic sequence based on a scientific theoretical framework and in the perspective of Historical-Critical Pedagogy in the teaching of science, expanding beyond the scientific, cultural, economic and social aspects in order to improve both the didactics of teachers,  and the students' interest in plants, so that they are able to associate and understand the relationship of Plant Morphology with their social context. The present research is characterized as qualitative bibliography, the data searches were carried out in journals and scientific articles published related to the theme of this study. As a result, it was chosen as a model species for the preparation of a didactic sequence, in this case, the plant species Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae, Basal Angiosperm), commonly known as avocado (Portuguese language), avocat (French language), avocado (Spanish and English language, especially in the USA). It is a species occurring in the municipality of São Mateus-ES, and the island of Guriri. Of native origin of the American continent, it has significant importance in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, cultural, gastronomic, pharmacological, and cosmetic importance The main aspects of Botany Teaching in the courses of: (1) Elementary School Sciences II, (2) High School Biology, (3) Undergraduate in Biological Sciences were contemplated with the avocado as a model species for the contextualized study of Botany. Finally, due to the modifications of the New Common Curriculum Base (BNCC), the present study was adapted for use in Elementary School II in the scope of Basic Education.