A importância das abelhas: uma proposta de atividade de educação ambiental

Abstract

Bees enact a key role in plant reproduction, as they pollinate and thus are one of the main means of perpetuation of wild flora and fauna. It is indispensable the awareness of the relevance of bees in the economic, social and environmental context. For this reason, this theme should be used as part of environmental education in schools seeking to encompass changing habits in relation to bees. This paper aims to raise awareness about the relevance of bees and their contribution to the environment, using environmental education as a tool, in schools in Itaqui, RS. The environmental education activity was carried out in two state schools in the municipality of Itaqui, in classes from 3rd to 5th grade of elementary school. The work was divided into two stages: in the first stage, in the classroom, a questionnaire was applied in order to record the students' basic notions regarding the proposed theme. In the second stage, in the school yard, the theme was presented about stinged and stingless bees, their origin, what products they produced, their importance and about the “death of bees due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides”. The results of the questionnaire showed that for students the importance of bees would be honey production (30% of responses), medicine production (27%) and pollination (4%), among others. Moreover, they showed lack of knowledge about the existence of stingless bees and about the real behavior of these insects. However, with the presentation of the theme, the students showed interest, questioning and participating in the activities. Hence, they understood the importance of bees in pollination and what this influences in the maintenance of local wildlife. It is concluded that the objective of the work was achieved because the students understood the relevance of bees and their contribution to the ecosystem, and will certainly take the information received to their families.