Caixa entomológica como recurso didático para aulas sobre a classe insecta

Abstract

In entomological boxes or collections, are stored, sorted and preserved, specimens or insect specimen structures for research and studies. This actual research aimed to promote knowledge about insect morphology, on 7th grade middle school students from Ruth Bezerra Public School located in Macapá City, in the State of Amapá. Initially a questionnaire was applied to obtain students' prior knowledge about the external morphology and  Class Insecta species. After the questionnaire, students produced drawings to demonstrate their knowledge about insects' body structures. Subsequent to the drawings, theoretical and practical classes were given using an entomological collection provided by Arthropod Laboratory from Universidade Federal do Amapá. At the end of the classes, the students again produced the demonstrative drawings of the insects' body structures, so that knowledge could be obtained during activities. At the end of the activities, the questionnaire was again applied to compare pre-intervention and post-intervention knowledge. The results demonstrate that, when asked pre-intervention if arachnids are insects, 62,5% (N=15) of the students said yes. After the activities execution, 83,3 % (N=20) of the students were able to see the difference between the insects and the arachnids. Students also mentioned having a desire for other practical classes to obtain knowledge in the classroom. It can be inferred that the practical class using the entomological box obtained considerable acceptance by the students, and contributed significantly to the construction of knowledge about insects' external morphology.