BETWEEN COMBS AND PARASITES: A FUN TEACHING EXPERIENCE ABOUT PEDICULOSE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Abstract

This article presents a pedagogical intervention of a playful-scientific nature, carried out with two classes of the fourth grade of Elementary School in a public school located in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The action had as its main objective to promote awareness about human pediculosis as a public health problem, through interactive strategies based on principles of biology, parasitology and health education. The proposal was conceived and conducted by undergraduate students in Biological Sciences, within the scope of a pedagogical discipline articulated with extension practices, with an emphasis on playfulness and meaningful learning. The activities involved educational games, dramatizations and the construction of didactic models representing the life cycle of Pediculus humanus capitis. The qualitative analysis was based on field diary records and direct observations made throughout the process. The results showed high student engagement, favoring the redefinition of previous conceptions, the deconstruction of stigmatizing beliefs and the strengthening of self-care practices. Furthermore, there were signs of conceptual appropriation by the participants, especially regarding the biology of the ectoparasite, the forms of transmission and the prophylactic measures. The findings reinforce the relevance of interdisciplinary and culturally sensitive approaches in the teaching of Science, especially when focused on themes that cross social, health and affective dimensions.