LEARNING BY DOING: PEDAGOGICAL WORKSHOPS FOR CHEMISTRY TEACHING THROUGH THE REUSE OF COOKING OIL

Abstract

This study discusses the implementation of pedagogical workshops focused on the reuse of used cooking oil as a raw material for the production of liquid and bar soap, with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability and raising awareness about the negative impacts of improper disposal of this waste on the environment. When discarded incorrectly, residual cooking oil can cause blockages in sewage systems, contamination of soil and water resources, and damage to fauna and flora. The workshops were carried out with students from the sixth stage of Youth and Adult Education (EJA) at Professor Luiz Ubiraci de Carvalho School and were conducted in two distinct stages. The first stage took place in the classroom and involved the presentation of the project, environmental awareness activities, guidance on the proper disposal of used cooking oil, and a roundtable discussion addressing the necessary care and procedures for soap production. The second stage consisted of the practical activity, in which students actively participated in the soap-making process, enabling the integration of theory and practice. During the practical activity, the effectiveness of the pedagogical workshop as a teaching–learning strategy was observed, as students were able to materialize the knowledge acquired, fostering meaningful learning and student protagonism. The results indicate that, after the workshops, participants began to adopt more sustainable practices, such as waste reuse and recycling, demonstrating increased environmental awareness. It is concluded that pedagogical workshops are an important environmental education tool, especially in the context of Youth and Adult Education, contributing to the training of multipliers and to the promotion of a more sustainable relationship with the environment.