Evolução biológica como eixo integrador das ciências da natureza no ensino fundamental

Abstract

Charles Darwin’s concept of evolution, proposed over a hundred and fifty years ago, is fundamental to modern biology. It allows us to understand various natural processes and expand our knowledge of both extinct and current living organisms. Additionally, Darwin’s theory enables us to analyze and identify the steps in the scientific production process. However, teaching evolution in basic education doesn’t always capture students’ interest, often due to a focus on memorization and concept reproduction. Many theorists argue that evolution education should be the central axis in life sciences, given its integrative capacity and its role in emerging areas of knowledge. In elementary education, students first encounter natural sciences, developing specific skills and competencies. This research aimed to investigate whether biological evolution is taught as a central theme in elementary education. We collected data through document analysis, a survey of recent publications on the topic, and the perspectives of elementary science teachers who attended a continuing education course. The results revealed ideological tensions that hinder the development of biological evolution as a central theme and suggest the need to invest in teacher training to promote scientific literacy in schools.