CALCULECO: a game for Environmental Education and sustainability using Mathematics

Abstract

The growing issue related to the inadequate management and disposal of solid waste in contemporary society demands different strategies to promote awareness and a change in population habits. Thus, Environmental Education can promote this change of thinking, which, when combined with an educational game, can enable students to act freely and actively, make decisions, and solve problems to enhance and/or develop new specific knowledge. Therefore, schools play a fundamental role in addressing Environmental Education topics. In this context, this work aims to report on the application of the educational product CALCULECO in classes from the 6th to 9th grades of the Final Years of Elementary Education in the public schools of Júlio de Castilhos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The activity was developed in four classes, in the subjects of Science and Mathematics. It was found that students were very receptive to the activity, interacting with each other and assisting classmates in understanding the questions and results. Furthermore, it was noticed that the age diversity among students in the same class, who were out of grade level, was not a barrier but rather an opportunity to explore students’ interpersonal relationships. Thus, it is evident that incorporating innovative, dynamic, and flexible alternatives into the school curriculum is crucial, providing meaningful experiences that prepare students not only for the classroom but also for facing life challenges in society.