Environmental Education and the perception of green space at school by elementary school students

Abstract

The natural environment contributes to the child formation and development and represents essential factor in basic education, based on the environmental perception of the child and its relationship with the environment. This study aimed to analyze children’s perception of the school environment associated with nature, as well as to identify the school physical-spatial attributes, aiming at the elaboration and implementation of an environmental intervention project with a focus on the creation of green spaces. This is a descriptive exploratory study, with a quali-quantitative research approach that served as a subsidy for an interdisciplinary intervention in the school space. 61 children took part, aged between 7 and 8 years, enrolled in the third year of a municipal elementary school in southern Brazil. Among the results, it highlights the expressive representation of nature, categorized as natural elements, highlighting the use of vegetation in school environments, and the elements of the built environment, with representations of the school and the adequate separation of recycled waste, important points in the recycling awareness. It is concluded that the contents presented by the children, pointed out the interest and appreciation for the natural environment in school. The importance of introducing green spaces in the school environment to raise environmental awareness, connection with nature and quality of life is justified.