Experimentation in teaching chemistry: the light of rare earth elements

Abstract

This paper describes the three-step activities of a didactic sequence (DS) with the theme of rare earth elements (RE), developed in a master's research that aimed to analyze the potential of DS carried out in a STS approach to teaching of chemistry. The DS was applied to approximately 120 students from three 1^st grade high school classes at a state public school in the northern region of the city of São Paulo. The research was developed in a qualitative approach, using the action research method. The DS steps described in this work are: (I) periodic table and rare earth elements; (II) application of RE elements; (III) experimentation: the light of rare earth elements. The results showed that the DS enabled students to debate political, economic and social issues related to the topic, and additionally perceiving themselves as citizens, whose attitudes can reduce environmental impacts and provide conscious decision-making regarding the disposal and use of electronic devices produced with the use of mineral resources.