O ensino de ciências na educação infantil: um estudo exploratório sobre a produção acadêmica no Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências (ENPEC) de 2013 a 2023

Abstract

This study aims to identify and analyze papers published at the Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências (ENPEC) between 2013 and 2023 that address science teaching in early childhood education. The research, qualitative in nature, is based on a literature review to understand how this field has been conceptualized, researched, and developed, as well as to identify challenges and opportunities highlighted in academic production. The results emphasize the importance of reflective and interactive pedagogical practices, integrating science into children's daily lives through playful and investigative approaches. Strategies such as games, experiments, and contact with nature have proven effective in stimulating critical thinking and scientific curiosity. However, challenges such as the lack of specific teacher training and the shortage of appropriate teaching materials still hinder the implementation of innovative practices. Interdisciplinarity and the use of methodologies such as the Inquiry-Based Teaching Sequence (SEI) and the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) approach demonstrate potential to enrich learning, promoting more meaningful and contextualized science education. It is concluded that science teaching in early childhood education should be strengthened through continuous teacher training and the adoption of pedagogical strategies that make science accessible and engaging from the earliest school years.