The Challenges of Environmental Health on the Science Curriculum on the Last Years of Elementary Education, in the State of Tocantins

Abstract

Environmental Health is an area of knowledge that goes through many curricular components, especially in the Natural Sciences, an important field to develop it. It should be related to the teachers' preparation to work in a critical way with a bias towards scientific literacy. This study aimed to evaluate the challenges faced by teachers in the area of Natural Sciences to implement Environmental Health in the Final Years of Elementary School, in the state of Tocantins. A quantitative and qualitative research identified a high percentage of young teachers, with higher prevalence to teach expository lessons and little appropriation of scientific literacy. Although the teachers indicated little difficulty in working with the themes of Environmental Health, they reported the need for continued education.