Proposta de uma disciplina eletiva envolvendo o tema de pigmentos e corantes naturais com enfoque nas culturas afrobrasileira e indígena

Abstract

Natural dyes have played a fundamental role in human history, being widely used in cave paintings, religious rituals, and as a form of communication. These pigments, extracted from minerals, plants, and animals, were essential for body painting, artifact decoration, and even textile production. In both Indigenous and African cultures, the use of natural pigments and dyes is an ancestral tradition that persists to this day, where there is respect and appreciation for painting practices not only for their meaning, durability, and beauty but also for their medicinal and spiritual roles. They represent a deep connection with nature and a respect for traditions passed down from generation to generation. In this context, the present work presents a literature review spanning from 2003 to 2023 in the journal Química Nova na Escola, investigating how the topic of natural pigments and dyes has been addressed in school settings over the past 20 years. Of the 33 pre-selected articles, 29 were analyzed and categorized according to the applied methodology, areas of implementation, and target audience. The observed methodologies were divided into experimental classes, lesson proposals, and literature reviews, with lesson proposals being the most frequently observed. Among the analyzed articles, most of the practical classes were carried out in public schools, mainly targeting high school students. Additionally, a significant number of practical lesson proposals were aimed at elementary and high school students. Given the broad nature of the topic, the approach can be experimental or serve as a foundation for discussions about the meaning of dyes and pigments in Indigenous and African societies. The literature review supports the central objective of this work: to present a proposal for the implementation of an Elective Course in a Escola Cidadã Integral Técnica (ECIT) as a way to integrate the teaching of chemistry with competencies and skills proposed in the teaching of sociology, history, and arts. This is one of many possibilities for complying with the legal requirement to incorporate knowledge about Indigenous and African cultures into basic education, in accordance with Laws No. 11.645 of March 10, 2008, and No. 10.639 of January 9, 2003.