VISUAL ARTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BREVES-PARÁ, MARAJÓ MESOREGION

Abstract

With the worsening environmental problems in society, resulting from human and technological development based on the irresponsible use of natural resources, the relationship between art and environmental education has the potential to foster critical and reflective development in students. Thus, the study examines the importance of art education as an instrument of environmental education for 50 elementary school students in an urban area of the municipality of Breves, Marajó Mesoregion. To answer the guiding question, the overall objective was to assess these students' environmental perceptions through the use of active methodologies that value the visual arts and foster development and learning toward an understanding of critical environmental education. This qualitative and quantitative research revealed that the pedagogical strategies adopted served as a window into understanding reality in a playful and thought-provoking way, sparking student interest, encouraging participation, and contributing to the development of a broader perspective on environmental education, the arts, and the environment in which students live. Finally, it is essential to encourage interdisciplinary educational initiatives that integrate art and the environment to significantly enrich learning, fostering innovation, motivation, and engagement among all stakeholders.