Dinamizando o ensino de Biologia Celular: contribuições de uma sequência didática com metodologias ativas

Abstract

The study of Cell Biology, or Cytology, is fundamental to understanding living beings, since the cell constitutes the basic unit of all organisms. However, teaching this subject faces pedagogical challenges, especially due to the high level of abstraction of the content and the difficulty students have in relating it to everyday situations, which often results in student disinterest in the topic. In this context, the use of active methodologies presents itself as a didactic alternative that can favor conceptual understanding and stimulate interest in Science. Thus, this study aimed to analyze how the use of a didactic sequence based on active methodologies, including playful resources, contributes to the teaching and learning of Cell Biology in Elementary School, favoring conceptual understanding and student engagement with the abstract content of cytology. The proposal was applied to sixth-grade students in a municipal school in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, involving 66 students, aged between 11 and 12 years, distributed in two classes. The teaching sequence was developed between May and August 2025, over eight 50-minute classes, encompassing theoretical activities, practical laboratory work, and the use of a playful resource through the educational game "Cell in Play". The results showed greater student engagement, increased classroom interactions, and advances in the understanding of the cytological concepts addressed. It is concluded that the diversification of teaching strategies, associated with the use of active methodologies, favored the construction of knowledge in a more dynamic, participatory, and contextualized way. Furthermore, the findings of this study indicate possibilities for applying the proposal to other content areas in Natural Sciences and reinforce the importance of further research focused on developing pedagogical practices that promote student protagonism and more meaningful learning.