GHOU in Brazil Maria de Fátima Saraiva GHOU 2009 – Porto Alegre – RS Brazil

The beginning…

GTTP session in Porto Alegre GTTP session in Porto Alegre 1 st GTTP session in South America 1 st GTTP session in South America 14 teachers (12 basic education, 2 superior) and 6 undergraduate students trained by 11 instructors 14 teachers (12 basic education, 2 superior) and 6 undergraduate students trained by 11 instructors

Who are the basic education teachers: 7 professional master students (IF-UFRGS) 7 professional master students (IF-UFRGS) 2 private school teachers 2 private school teachers 1 federal institute teacher 1 federal institute teacher 2 public school teachers 2 public school teachers

Participant origin (except instructors) (except instructors) Rio Grande do Sul: 19 Rio Grande do Sul: 19 Espírito Santo: 1 Espírito Santo: 1 São Paulo: 1 São Paulo: 1 Chile: 2 Chile: 2 Other South American countries:0 Other South American countries:0

Public schools in Brazil Low salaries Low salaries Teachers poorly prepared Teachers poorly prepared Internet connections almost nonexistent Internet connections almost nonexistent Very few computers (but the federal government is distributing computers to the schools, and aims to give one computer to each student) Very few computers (but the federal government is distributing computers to the schools, and aims to give one computer to each student)

Astronomy in the basic school curriculum

Organizational structure of basic education Duration Age Age Children’s education 2 years 2 years Fundamental education (compulsory) 9 years 9 years Secondary education 3 years 3 years 15 – – 17

National Curriculum Parameters for Fundamental Education Contents Portuguese Major subjects 1 st – 2 nd cycles ( 1 st – 4 th grades ) Thematic axes Math Natural Sciences History GeographyArts Foreign Language Physics Education Cycles 3 rd – 4 th cycles (5 th – 8 th grades) Human being & Health Earth and Universe Environment Technology & Society Life & Environment Moon phases Telescopes Constellations Seasons Solar system

National Curriculum Parameters for Secondary Education Fields of Knowledge Structural Themes Thematic Unities Mathematics and Nature Sciences Human Sciences Languages Biology Chemistry Universe, Earth and Life Movements Matter and Radiation Electricity Sound Heat and Energy Physics Earth and Solar System Human comprehension of the Universe The universe and its origin

Despite the recommendations of the PCN’s, most schools fails to adopt Astronomy in their curriculum, mainly because of the lack of knowledge of Astronomy on the part of teachers. Despite the recommendations of the PCN’s, most schools fails to adopt Astronomy in their curriculum, mainly because of the lack of knowledge of Astronomy on the part of teachers. (but there are many brilliant exceptions…) (but there are many brilliant exceptions…)