As plantas medicinais comuns em quintais urbanos e a sabedoria popular: ensino de ciências para além da sala de aula

Abstract

he knowledge about medicinal herbs is sometimes the only therapeutic resource in many communities. The enhancement of this popular knowledge that students experience in their homes enhances and fosters interest in scientific knowledge. This research aimed to stimulate the attraction of students to popular knowledge about medicinal herbs, valuing and giving access to empirical knowledge experienced by them and based on scientific knowledge. The creation of teas, infusions and cataplasms, present in traditional knowledge and in the lives of the students themselves, has been used as a pedagogical tool, and is often underestimated by the new generations. An investigative activity was carried out with the students with the relatives aiming to discover which species of medicinal herbs are common among the residences, its utilities and preparations and subsequently a workshop was given in the classroom, bringing some more common species in urban backyards and a demonstration of the forms of use such as infusions, cataplasms and dehydration preparation. In addition, informative materials were made that were shared in the school community. At the end of the project was built a garden in environment with beds in the school space itself. Finally, a discussion was held on the experience carried out allowing students to bring to the classroom the knowledge acquired during their life course within the family, in addition the students' perception of the information about the plants was important.