Entre as Estrelas e descobertas Astronômicas - Uma proposta didática de Astrofísica Estelar para o ensino fundamental

Abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics are subjects that frequently arouse students’ interest and encompass topics that are highly relevant to Science Education in Basic Education. However, content related to stellar evolution still presents challenges for middle school education due to its conceptual complexity. In this context, this study aimed to analyze how the principles of the Critical Meaningful Learning Theory (CMLT) are integrated into the construction of a Potentially Meaningful Teaching Unit (PMTU) focused on teaching concepts of stellar evolution to 9th-grade students. To achieve this, a literature review was conducted on the teaching of Astrophysics in Basic Education, based on papers published in the proceedings of the National Symposium on Physics Education (SNEF). In addition, a PMTU was developed grounded in the principles of progressive differentiation, integrative reconciliation, and the use of advance organizers. The instructional proposal was structured according to the sequential steps of PMTUs and incorporated a variety of pedagogical resources, including educational games, supporting texts, inquiry-based activities, and three-dimensional models created through 3D modeling. Subsequently, the proposal was analyzed in light of the assumptions of CMLT, seeking to identify how its theoretical foundations are reflected in the organization and instructional structure of the unit. The results indicate that the PMTU is consistent with the adopted theoretical principles and demonstrates potential to support the teaching of concepts related to stellar evolution in a meaningful, critical, and contextualized manner. Therefore, this study contributes to discussions on the teaching of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Basic Education by providing theoretical and methodological support for the development of instructional proposals grounded in Critical Meaningful Learning.