Environmental issues and concerns have been addressed for almost five decades, when the
relationship between humans and nature began to be observed as interactive and inseparable.
Starting in the 1990s, with the RIO ECO - United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development and the approval of the National Policy on Environment and Environmental
Education, sustainability finally became part of global and national discussions. This case
study, conducted within the post-graduate education program at UFT, aims to understand the
educational process between the Social Technology Ecoponto na Escola and UMA/UFT at
the Vinícius de Moraes Full-Time Municipal School, using the perceptions of the academics
from the University of Maturity - UMA/UFT, located in Palmas. Descriptive qualitative
research was conducted, based on phenomenology, through the Social Technology Ecoponto
na Escola. The activities involved the participation of 3 interns from the Catholic University,
6 elderly people from the University of Maturity, 2 regular teachers from the Vinícius de
Moraes School Unit, 60 children aged 9 to 11 from the same school unit, and an external
researcher with a background in Environmental Engineering. We included the elderly by
valuing their life experiences. Among the activities proposed in the meetings, the following
were held: implementation of a school garden, playful activities about nature elements, the
water cycle, storytelling focused on sustainability, music and recycling, and teaching
sustainability to all ages, held at UMA/UFT. This interaction reduces the social isolation that
many elderly people face. By proposing intergenerationality as a focal point, the coexistence
between the elderly and children was stimulated. The results indicated that intergenerational
practices are favorable to child development and promote the socialization of older people.
Coexistence and activities carried out together also helped break stereotypes about old age
and brought generations closer. The feedback has been very positive, with reports of
increased interaction and coexistence among the generations and changes in behavior and
thinking among the participants in the shared educational processes, with greater
commitment and engagement in selective waste collection in schools, and significant
changes in more sustainable habits. With this research, we hope to advance the discussion
and propose action in intergenerational education with a focus on sustainability, not only in
Tocantins but also throughout the country.
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