Implementation of investigative activities in the science discipline in a public school: a didactic experience

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study on the use of an investigative activity on the content of photosynthesis and respiration in a class of the sixth year of elementary education in the discipline of Sciences, in a public school in the city of Londrina, Brazil. The school where the research was conducted, used more traditional methods of teaching, so it was the first time that students had contact with investigative activities. The study pointed out some students' difficulties in understanding the proposal, such as the development of hypotheses and also showed resistance when they were given situations where they needed to think about a particular problem. We realized clearly that they depend on the textbook to give their responses, thus showing a certain lack of autonomy both in their actions and in their thoughts. On the other hand, they had good participation in discussions and were engaged throughout the activity. Thus, despite the difficulties encountered by students, we consider both possible and necessary the use of investigative activities in schools by encouraging, besides the development of skills, also the ability to reason, and by giving students more rigorous ways of thinking, critical and creative.