ECOGINCANA: EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PINHEIRO – MA

Abstract

The Eco-Gymkhana, held by students of the Biological Sciences course at the State University of Maranhão (UEMA), is an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness among students about environmental issues through playful methodologies. The event was developed with 9th-grade students from public schools in Pinheiro-MA, addressing topics such as biodiversity, selective collection, food waste, reuse of solid waste, and urban afforestation. The gymkhana was organized into teams that participated in dynamic activities, such as questions and answers, trash hunts, production of reusable objects, and identification of seedlings, promoting the engagement of participants practically and interactively. The results showed that the Eco-Gymkhana was able to achieve its objectives by integrating theoretical concepts with practical activities, developing sustainable attitudes in students. The competition encouraged collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving, in addition to reinforcing values ​​of socio-environmental responsibility. In the end, the teams with the best performance were awarded, consolidating the importance of recognizing collective effort. This project stands out as an effective tool for environmental education, in line with the guidelines of Law No. 9,795/1999, which encourages environmental education at all levels of education. The initiative reinforces the need to implement methodologies that connect learning to students' daily lives, promoting awareness and sustainability for future generations.