The representations of primary school students in a school in Aguiarnópolis (TO), based on the socio-spatial transformations of the Estreito dam (MA)

Abstract

This study analyzes the socio-spatial transformations in Aguiarnópolis (TO) resulting from the construction of the Estreito Hydroelectric Power Plant, focusing on the perceptions of elementary school students from a state public school in that municipality. The research was conducted in the second semester of 2024 at the Girassol de Tempo Integral Nazaré Nunes da Silva State School, involving an 8th-grade class. The choice of this school level is justified by the fact that, at this level of education, students already articulate family experiences, local memories, and school content in a more elaborate way. The construction of the dam, which began in 2007, brought significant effects to the landscape and social life. Therefore, the research focuses on the perception of children who grew up in a city modified by the dam, highlighting how they experience the place and how family memories shape their understanding of space. Methodological procedures included classroom observation, drawing, and guided dialogues about the before and after of the dam. When children hear stories from their parents and grandparents, they associate the construction of Estreito with the loss of territories and activities such as agriculture and fishing. The drawings show how the transformations affected nature, such as the submersion of forests and the decomposition of vegetation. According to Callai (2011), geographical education requires students to build a foundation for understanding the spatiality of social phenomena, going beyond the simple reception of information.