Salt speleothem growth as a proposal for environmental awareness through non-formal education in Geosciences

Abstract

Formal methods of teaching theoretical concepts, involving the use of textbooks, still prevail in conventional teaching in Brazil. New technologies and innovations are gaining space within schools, to captivate the attention of the modern student. Through a multidisciplinary approach, and based on the connection between formal education and the real world and nature, this paper aims to disseminate, in Portuguese, a well-known proposal for a practical experiment regarding the formation of salt speleo-thems, using geological concepts related to speleology. This proposal contributes to student engagement in the natural sciences, and encourages scientific thinking by setting up and observing practical experiences that develop the scientific abilities of ob-servation and description. The experiment involves the creation a theoretical model of speleothem formation, and introduces, in an appropriate fashion, geological concepts of the formation of those rocks. This helps students to construct a conceptual framework that can be applied to several topics in the future, whether related to geology, climate or environmental sciences. The experimental approach of geoscience education produces a learning experience for students. The formation of salt speleo-thems can serve as a basis for students to begin to relate intrinsic concepts of geological science, such as time, space, and location.