Possibilidades dos Parques Urbanos para o ensino e a aprendizagem de Geografia

Abstract

The debate on educational practices has been growing, aiming for more effective and meaningful methods. A growing concern is the need to connect school content to students' reality, especially in subjects like Geography. However, despite efforts, traditional classes and the use of textbooks still prevail in many educational institutions, which can limit students' interest and motivation, especially when it comes to topics related to local urban spaces. In this context, field activities emerge as a promising alternative, allowing students to experience firsthand what they are learning and establish deeper connections with the environment they live in. This paper aims to analyze the potential of urban parks as an educational resource in Geography teaching, with a focus on the city of Uberlândia, MG. The objective is to characterize urban parks and their functions, investigate their use for Environmental Education according to the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC), and correlate the contents addressed in the official curriculum with local parks. The method consists of a literature review to support the analysis of academic literature on the topic and a field survey in the parks of Uberlândia, MG to identify possible correlations with the geographical contents of the school curriculum. The results point to the potential of urban parks as learning environments, allowing the practical exploration of geographical concepts and the development of a deeper environmental awareness. Additionally, they highlight the need for teacher training and collaboration among local authorities, communities, and educators to effectively integrate parks into education. Finally, it underscores the importance of Urban Parks as valuable educational resources to make Geography teaching more relevant. Moreover, it emphasizes the need to overcome practical challenges and promote a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to ensure the successful integration of parks into education.