A Física do aquecimento global: uma unidade de ensino potencialmente significativa sobre conceitos termodinâmicos no EJATEC

Abstract

Global warming has been reflected in noticeable changes in climate patterns. In Brazil, recent events—such as prolonged droughts, wildfires in the Pantanal, and severe flooding in Rio Grande do Sul—indicate that different regions of the country have been affected by extreme events. Although the scientific community consistently points to the influence of human activities in this process, this understanding is not equally shared outside that sphere, where divergent interpretations and inaccurate information still circulate. Considering this scenario, Physics teaching can contribute by providing students with tools to analyze these issues based on scientific concepts. In the classroom, this implies going beyond the formal presentation of content and exploring situations in which such concepts help interpret everyday phenomena. The topic of global warming, for example, allows for the discussion of Thermodynamics concepts through concrete problems, such as the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, changes in land use, and waste management. From this perspective, this work organizes a teaching proposal aimed at bringing these contents closer to students’ realities. To this end, it is based on a Potentially Meaningful Teaching Unit, structured according to David Ausubel’s theory of meaningful learning and elements of Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach. The unit addresses central concepts of Thermodynamics and proposes activities in which this knowledge is applied to the analysis of situations related to environmental contexts. The proposal will be implemented with classes from Youth and Adult Education integrated with Professional Education, in evening high school courses at a public state school in São Luís (MA). The choice of this context takes into account the specific characteristics of this group, particularly regarding the diversity of educational trajectories and life experiences. Through the implementation of this proposal, the study seeks to examine how the articulation between thermodynamic concepts and environmental issues may contribute to a better understanding of the content and expand students’ ability to analyze problems present in their daily lives.