The Energy Theme as a Facilitator of Transdisciplinarity

Resumo

Background: Topics covered in chemistry classes are classified as decontextualized and not related to other knowledge, or to people's daily lives. Objective: to present a suggestion of simple, inexpensive experiments for science and/or chemistry classes and, from them, demonstrate how to associate chemistry with other areas of knowledge. Design: Detection of the presence of starch in coleus leaves after being kept in different conditions of light, water and CO₂ supply during their development. Ethanol production from the alcoholic fermentation of simple carbohydrates. Participants: A total of 29 published scientific works were used: scientific articles, conference communications, book chapters, and official documents from the Brazilian federal government and the state government of Rio Grande do Sul, as well as from international organizations.   Data collection and analysis: National Common Curriculum Base (BNCC), Gaúcho Curriculum Reference (RCG) and Scientific articles that describes the experiments as well as analyze possibilities of transdisciplinary activities in the elementary and high school. Results: Starting from very simple experiments, detection of starch in leaves of plants, subjected to different conditions, such as suppression of the supply of air and sunlight and, production of alcohol from alcoholic fermentation, it is possible not only to work with several of the chemical concepts but also create a link with subjects from other curricular components according to the BNCC and RCG, facilitating interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. Conclusions: In this context, teachers are no longer transmitters of knowledge, acting as mediators in the teaching-learning process, and students have a more active role in the acquisition of knowledge, being protagonists in the construction of their knowledge.