League of mammals (lom): gamificação sobre mamíferos da Mata Atlântica da Paraíba

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest of Paraíba is a biome that has been highly devastated and fragmented due to deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization driven by human occupation. The mammals found in this region differ from those in the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest, due to geological, climatic, phytophysiognomic, historical, and evolutionary differences. These mammals exhibit diverse ecological characteristics, such as diet, locomotion, activity period, and body size. This diversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem services, including pollination, seed dispersal, and pest and disease control. However, continuous anthropogenic pressures are driving a process of defaunation in the biome, which, despite its remarkable biodiversity, is increasingly under threat. Topics such as biodiversity, ecosystem services, and threats to species extinction are rarely included in zoology content taught in schools, whether at the elementary or high school levels. This study aimed to develop educational activities to support the teaching of Science and Biology, with a focus on biological diversity, ecology, environmental impacts, and the risk of extinction, emphasizing mammals native to Paraíba. The research was qualitative in nature, employing a bibliographic review to compile data on mammal species from the Atlantic Forest in Paraíba. A total of 109 mammal species were featured in the educational materials developed. Two proposals for utilizing the materials were presented. The first activity targets 7th-grade Elementary School students and is aligned with content about mammals. It includes a Memory Game supported by activities to assess prior knowledge (using a word cloud) and a post-application questionnaire. The second activity is aimed at 2nd- and 3rd-grade High School students and involves assembling two tables representing biodiversity. The first table illustrates diversity in a healthy ecosystem, highlighting ecological relationships and ecosystem services provided by mammals. The second table represents biodiversity after the impact of human actions, focusing on the resulting ecological consequences. This activity concludes with discussions on actions to mitigate such impacts. Prior knowledge is assessed through a questionnaire, and students are encouraged to produce comic strips as a post-activity exercise. The goal of these educational tools is to foster a more interactive and participatory learning experience centered on regional mammalian diversity. These approaches serve as an initial step toward raising awareness about the conservation of these species. The proposed activities emphasize student interaction, the integration of prior knowledge, personal expression regarding the problems discussed, and the development of potential solutions.