INTERESTS AND CONCEPTIONS ON BIODIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO: WHAT DO STUDENTS HAVE TO TELL US?
The present research sought to identify and understand the interests and conceptions of students regarding biodiversity, and to identify, from this survey, didactic needs for education on biodiversity. The investigation took place in schools located in the vicinity and distant from remaining forests in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, as well as in the Coastal Zone, both located in cities in the State of São Paulo. The data collection instruments used were questionnaires with 105 statements for 188 participating students and, of these, 20 were also interviewed using a semi-structured script with 11 questions. The data obtained were analyzed and compared according to the environment, near and far, the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes and the Coastal Zone. Possibilities of approaches regarding biodiversity in didactic materials were suggested based on the results and discussions to promote the teaching of biodiversity.