Astrobiology and Citizen Science: Possibilities for the Scientific Literacy of Elementary School Students
In a world where transformations in all fields of science happen all the time, understanding, interpreting and establishing critical thinking becomes fundamental to broaden the horizons of the human being. With similar concerns, the aim of this research is to seek to understand how a didactic sequence on Astrobiology, guided by a Citizen Science perspective, can contribute to the development of scientific literacy in sixth grade students. The research with qualitative methodology is taking place in a private school in the ABC region and target students who participate in a science club that has a weekly frequency of 50 minutes each meeting. The activities developed in the science club permeate investigative practices, which provide the student with an experience of how science actually happens. Therefore, the didactic sequence which is being implemented is in line with the activities that are already worked with the students. As a result, the students participating in the classes are expected to broaden their perspectives on science and develop skills that involve scientific literacy and, consequently, critical thinking.