Environmental Education in the teaching of biology in schools of Pombal (PB, Brazil)

Current research evaluates the teaching of environmental themes in Biology and in other disciplines in high schools in the town of Pombal, Paraiba, Brazil. Students´ knowledge on environmental themes is also assessed. Ninety students were interviewed through a questionnaire featuring nine items structured on the Likert´s scale. Students tended to perceive Biology as a discipline which best explains environmental themes. They showed to be greatly informed on Environmental preservation and Solid wastes and recycling. On the other hand, they knew less on the Harmonious relationship with plants. Significant variation in knowledge was detected between genders with regard to environmental themes. In fact, males were better informed. Results show the need to insert environmental themes within a continuous and interdisciplinary planning. Resumo: Essa pesquisa avaliou o ensino de temas ambientais, na Biologia e em outras disciplinas, no ensino medio de escolas da cidade de Pombal, Paraiba. Alem de avaliar os conhecimentos de seus discentes quanto a esses temas. Foram entrevistados 90 alunos com a aplicacao de um questionario, com nove (09) itens estruturados no modelo da escala de Likert. Os alunos tenderam a perceber a Biologia como a disciplina que melhor ensinaria esses temas ambientais e, afirmaram conhecer mais sobre temas relacionados a Preservacao ambiental e Residuos solidos e reciclagem. Por outro lado, souberam menos sobre a Relacao harmoniosa com as plantas. Houve variacao significativa no conhecimento entre os generos para tres temas ambientais, onde, o genero masculino apresentou maior conhecimento. Os resultados indicam a necessidade da insercao de temais ambientais de forma planejada, continua e interdisciplinar. Palavras-chave: Ambiente; Alunos; Transdisciplinar.