JOGOS PARA O ENSINO SOBRE A BIODIVERSIDADE DA MATA ATLÂNTICA NO CONTEXTO DO RIO IGUAÇU

GAMES FOR TEACHING ABOUT THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST IN THE CONTEXT OF THE IGUAÇU RIVER

Abstract

The Iguaçu River Basin, located in the Atlantic Forest biome, houses an ecosystem of great ecological importance, with several endemic and endangered species, and has been facing serious threats due to anthropogenic impacts. Aiming to provide educational materials aligned with the guidelines of the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) to address the biodiversity of this region, two educational games were developed. The games address concepts such as morphological characteristics of animals, habitats, habits, risk of extinction, and the distinction between exotic, native, and endemic species, contextualizing this information in the Iguaçu River region. The Fauna Iguaçu game was applied in a workshop with Basic Education teachers, who highlighted the material's potential for teaching Science, Biology, and Environmental Education. The teachers showed great engagement and reported learning new information about the local fauna, reinforcing the importance of games as teaching tools. Based on teacher feedback, a simplified version of the game, called Bichos do Iguaçu, was developed, featuring fewer species and graphic adaptations to facilitate reading. Both games are low-cost and available for printing, allowing their replication in different teaching contexts. In addition to promoting the assimilation of zoology content and concepts rarely explored in textbooks, the games foster a more dynamic and playful learning experience, stimulating reflections on fauna conservation and the impacts of human actions on ecosystems.