Education in Motion: Sowing Environmental Edu-cation and Entertainment

Abstract

The Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area (APACC), the largest coastal-marine conservation unit in Brazil, sustains approximately 200,000 people. Despite its wealth in biodiversity and cultural assets, a lack of local awareness and pride poses challenges for environmental managers. Environmental awareness, as a crucial tool to transform this reality, seeks to change the mindset of the population and promote new habits. Focusing on the future represented by children, the animated series “Mar à Vista” was developed to stimulate curiosity and environmental care from an early age. Although successful in the digital realm, we acknowledge that the internet may not be accessible to everyone. To democratize access to environmental knowledge, an initiative emerged incorporating teachings from “Mar à Vista” and other educational materials through in-person activities. Initiated at the end of 2021, the activities impacted hundreds of children in different cities, especially in the APACC region. With 20 interventions in the last year, reaching approximately 800 children, activities were conducted in open and private formats, spanning schools, universities, malls, and municipal public spaces. Tailored to age groups, the actions included storytelling, body painting, screening of the animated series, choreographies about marine fauna, quizzes, distribution of educational materials, and exhibitions of drawings. In addition to sparking children’s interest, the activities aim to involve adults in the theme of oceanic culture, historically distant from society. The importance of this involvement is evident in the context of environmental degradation, unsustainable practices, and related social challenges. Both the inspiration and engagement of children and adults prove essential to instill awareness and care for APACC and the environment. This pedagogical practice model, with its adaptability to local peculiarities and needs, demonstrates the potential to be replicated in various regions, starting from childhood.