Bebidas industrializadas: um tema de uma pesquisa interdisciplinar desenvolvida no Ensino Fundamental

Abstract

The use of research as a strategy for teaching allows for a more critical and global education of the students, because interdisciplinary studies are performed and, mainly, the students are allowed to choose research themes of direct interest for them. Given that the consumption of industrialized beverages is frequent among children and teenagers and can be associated to health problems, we developed an interdisciplinary research with a class of 8th year students of a municipal public school of fundamental education. The students investigated the sugar amount, sodium amount and energetic value shown in the recipients (two liters) of various industrialized beverages, such as sodas, juices and teas. We analyzed the problems arising from the consumption of beverage colorants and excessive amounts of sugar and sodium. Among the industrialized beverages selected that have the highest energetic values and sugar amounts are the dark-colored sodas. In contrast, the drinks with the highest sodium amounts are “zero” drinks and powdered juices. Through this project, the students developed a significant learning about industrialized drinks composition and potential health hazards, and learned basic concepts of percentages and proportions, which was clearly observable during the resolution of activities, presentation of the results and conversations with more colleagues and teachers during the course of the project.

Keywords

• ciências. matemática. pesquisa em sala de aula. refrigerantes. saúde