IMPLANTAÇÃO DE HORTAS MEDICINAIS NAS ESCOLAS: UM CAMINHO PARA A EDUCAÇÃO E A SAÚDE

Abstract

This study aimed to use a school medicinal garden as an educational tool focused on plant cultivation, with the objective of promoting the study of the botanical characteristics of these species. It sought to create learning situations that integrate theoretical and practical knowledge about the botany of medicinal plants, as well as implement a medicinal garden as a resource for teaching this science, while also reviving ethnobotanical knowledge. In this way, through the school medicinal garden, we can have an open-air laboratory that enables the development of various pedagogical activities in science, particularly in the fields of botany and health. This approach contributes positively to bridging theory and practice, making the teaching-learning process easier to understand, while also fostering teamwork and actively contributing to the development of skills and the internalization of values. The project was carried out in a state school in the municipality of Rio Verde, GO, with the participation of 29 7th-grade students. Over the course of 5 months, the project was structured into four stages, with meetings lasting 1 hour each. For data collection, questionnaires were applied before and after the activities, along with photos, audio recordings, and observations. The project contributed to deepening students' knowledge of botany, with an emphasis on understanding the differences between types of medicinal plants and their functions. The use of the medicinal garden proved effective as a teaching resource, sparking students' interest and curiosity about medicinal plants and botanical concepts.