Exploring the air: science education for students with autism in the final years of midlle school

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to socialize a pedagogical proposal that aimed to contribute to the integral development of six students aged between nine and thirteen years diagnosed with autism. We base our work in Inquiry-Based Teaching Sequences proposed by Dr. Anna Maria Pessoa de Carvalho, exploring situations in which the displacement of air moves objects. For data collection, we used audio records, which were later transcribed and notes in a field notebook. The data obtained were tabulated and categorized according to the different stages of a Content Analysis proposed by Bardin. The activities provided students with conceptual, procedural, and attitudinal developments. We highlight the contribution that multisensory materials can add to the apprentices' teaching process, allowing for more complex explanations about the relationships between air and the movement of objects.