Consumo e descarte de óleos vegetais comestíveis: proposta de sequência didática como estratégia de ensino das Ciências Ambientais

Abstract

The changing eating patterns of societies have increased the consumption of fried foods, which is directly associated with the onset of various diseases. Vegetable oils resulting from these preparations are a potential environmental pollutant when discarded inappropriately. The purpose of this study is to research the consumption and disposal of edible vegetable oils by third-year high school students in Chemistry classes, by proposing the development and application of a Didactic Sequence (DS) using active methodologies, in order to promote teaching of Environmental Sciences and provide the target audience with the opportunity to change their behavior regarding consumption and disposal of these compounds. The applied methodology was a quantitative-qualitative approach, using action research to obtain data using observation techniques, questionnaires, conversation circles, semi-structured interviews and bibliographic/document analysis. This research was carried out at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará - IFPA/Campus Belém with 2 classes from Chemistry and Systems Development courses, totaling 46 students. After applying the DS, which obtained the highest content validation index, it was found that 54.2% of Chemistry students and 18.2% of Systems Development students researched had reduced their consumption of fried food and 66.7% and 45.5%, respectively, of these students began to dispose of waste oil properly. The education product was made available in the form of a Didactic Sequence Guidance Manual to aid the teaching-learning process in Environmental Sciences.