Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental quality of an educational institution in order to draw up a School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP).
Theoretical Framework: Studies on this subject have tended to investigate and diagnose the level of environmental sensitivity and perception through school environmental practices, with the intention of proposing intervention actions, but without using simplified environmental planning models.
Method: In this work, the Environmental Committee was created and the Environmental Diagnosis of a rural school in Uberaba-MG was carried out using the following tools: photodiagnosis, floristic survey, questionnaires and checklist. Based on the results, the SEMP was drawn up, using the 5W2H tool, Environmental Education actions were proposed for inclusion in the school's Pedagogical Political Project.
Results and Discussion: The environmental education carried out at the school could be characterized as occasional and isolated practices, often misunderstood by those who carry it out. As a result, a playful booklet was produced with the tools used and instructions on how to create an SEMP, which was distributed to all the schools in the municipal network.
Research Implications: The SEMP was the product of collective and conscious action by the school community, and was not their sole responsibility, either in terms of preparation, execution or maintenance.
Originality/Value: The method used to draw up the SEMP, when compared to other environmental management projects, proves to be an instrument for developing pro-environmental behavior, contributing to the sustainability of other school units.