O potencial educativo da Praça Centenário de Maceió, Alagoas: o jogo como proposta didática para o ensino de geografia nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental

Abstract

This study analyzes the educational potential of Centenário Square, located in the city of Maceió, Alagoas, for Geography teaching in the early years of Elementary School, understanding it as an expression of lived place and as a possibility for pedagogical mediation. The research is based on a qualitative, exploratory, and applied approach, combining bibliographic research and theoretical analysis on Geography teaching, the study of place, urban space, and playfulness. It is grounded on the understanding that Geography teaching should promote a critical reading of geographic space based on students’ everyday experiences, valuing public spaces as learning environments. In this context, Centenário Square is conceived as a space of memory, identity, coexistence, and belonging, presenting potential for the development of contextualized pedagogical practices. As an outcome of the research, the educational game “Discovering Centenário Square” was developed for fifth-grade Elementary School students, aiming to promote the understanding of geographic concepts related to place, landscape, territory, memory, and citizenship through a playful and participatory approach. The study concludes that the use of everyday urban spaces associated with educational games contributes to meaningful learning, the appreciation of public spaces, and the development of critical geographical thinking in the early years of schooling.