Ensino de ciências na educação infantil: uma análise explanatória das publicações científicas disponíveis na biblioteca SciELO

Abstract

This study sought to carry out a documentary analysis of scientific publications researching the teaching of science in the early childhood education age group, pupils aged three (3) to six (6), and which were found in the SciELO digital library. The SciELO library was selected because it is a free platform with a wide reach. The documentary analysis parameters described by Bardin were adopted, using the descriptors “early childhood education”, “childhood”, “science education” and “science education” for the initial search. In quantitative terms, a greater number of publications were found after 2009, when early childhood education became compulsory in Brazil. In a qualitative analysis, the increase in publications in the area may indicate the pairing of research with new public policy proposals, especially for early childhood education (compulsory enrollment) and basic education (approval of the BNCC) in the period observed. We also identified intersecting themes among the selected articles, bringing up points about the particularities of the teaching-learning process in science in early childhood education.