The Sensory Garden as an Environmental Educational Activity for Social Inclusion in the Natural Sciences Museum of University of Caxias do Sul

Abstract

In our daily life many details are not perceived because we mostly use the sigth perception and leave other human senses asleep. In order to encourage the awareness, balance and respect for nature by other senses, we have created the Sensory Garden as a part of Project The Museum of Natural Science Goes to School: A Proposal for Environmental Inclusive Education, which aims to assist deaf students of the Municipal School of Special Education Helen Keller of Caxias do Sul / RS on the importance of environmental preservation through educational workshops and inclusive. Deafness should not be seen as a factor that prevents interaction with various educational means. It takes students to integrate into society and can take advantage of diverse teaching methodologies, providing opportunities for them to become full citizens according to their potential. The workshop was performed with 30 students of the 5th, 6th and 7th grades. The students were initially blindfolded and in contact with aromatic plants and leaves of various textures they could interact with them by other senses rather than the sight. After the discoveries, the eyes were uncovered and students shared the sensations experienced. Using the Brazilian Sign Language they gave testimonials about the experience, making contributions starting from the previous knowledge they possessed. Then, they recognized the plants and at the end, the outstanding characteristics of each one were described and stressed the importance of their adaptations for survival in nature and its relevance to man.

http://dx.doi.org/10.18226/23185279.v2iss2p43