Garden at school

an environmental education strategy in a public school of Divinópolis, State of Minas Gerais

Abstract

The objective of this project was to promote Environmental Education, as well as awaken socio-environmental values using the vegetable garden as a didactic-pedagogical strategy, at the State School Armando Nogueira, in Divinópolis, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two classes from the 6th year (n = 43 students), two classes from the 7th year (n = 45), two classes from the 8th year (n = 46) and two classes from the 9th year (n = 49) participated in the activities, corresponding to a total of 183 students and four teachers, in addition to three school employees who assisted in the construction of the vegetable garden. In addition to the vegetable garden, it was proposed to create a compost bin, aiming at the use of organic waste from the school kitchen. The actions were conducted in such a way that the students could participate in the preparation of the beds, sowing the vegetables, making and using the compost. The activities made it possible to work on various contents, such as recycling organic matter, human nutrition, soil and ecosystem interactions. Two lectures were also given, one on recycling and the other on the importance of good food, each involving 172 and 183 students respectively. The school vegetable garden proved to be an important tool for Environmental Education, increasing the interest, learning and environmental awareness of the public involved.