The exploitation of natural resources, the population growth in urban areas, along with the
incentive to a culture of consumption are the causes of significant socio-environmental impacts.
On top of that, there is the excessive production of solid waste. Solid residues, when not treated
correctly, cause damage to nature, contaminating the air, soil, and water, as well as causing
health problems, spreading diseases in the population. On the grounds of this problem, it is
necessary to stimulate critical-reflective development, proposing changes in society's behavior
regarding environmental issues. In this perspective, Environmental Education is among the
primary alternatives for the diffusion of environmental issues. The development of
Environmental Education in an efficient way enables the construction of a more reflective and
sensitive society, a conductor of transformations in environmental realities. Hence, this work
aims to identify whether the theme of solid waste is addressed in the classroom by teachers of
Elementary Education in the Public Schools of Capitão Poço - PA: Padre Vitaliano Maria Vari
and Osvaldo Cruz. The specific objectives are: to identify if the basic education teachers of the
schools have already had access to continuing education focused on the solid waste theme; to
inspect the availability of instructional materials in the schools, and among the teachers about
the theme. Furthermore, the elaboration of a Didactic Orientation Guide for elementary
teachers, which deals with the point at issue. The methodology consisted of a bibliographic
survey and the application of questionnaires to municipal agents, school coordination, and
elementary teachers in Capitão Poço. The collection of this information was carried out in
electronic format, because of the context experienced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital
tool for the application of the questionnaires was Google Forms and personal e-mail. The results
obtained through the application of questionnaires showed that the problem of solid waste,
despite being crucially important nowadays, is unexplained in the school environment. This
conclusion is proven by the lack of knowledge and educational material that deals with the
subject. Therefore, given the results, it was possible to elaborate a Didactic Orientation Guide
for Elementary Teachers about Solid Waste, to offer instructional material that approaches the
subject clearly and objectively.
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