Playing and learning about the climate

university extension with the four seasons clock

Abstract

Environmental education is essential for shaping conscious citizens committed to sustainability. In the context of university extension, playful approaches have proven effective in teaching complex concepts such as climatology. This study presents an experience report on the "Four Seasons Clock" project, developed at the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG), aimed at teaching climatic phenomena interactively to children and young people. The activities were structured through practical experimentation and the use of recyclable materials, allowing the integra­tion of theory and practice. The project was carried out in a public square in the city of Passos, MG, and involved Environmental Engineering students from UEMG, who acted as facilitators in the teaching-learning process. The results showed that playfulness and experimentation facilitated content assimilation and sparked par­ticipants' interest in climatology. Furthermore, the incorporation of recyclable ma­terials reinforced awareness of the importance of waste management and sustain­able consumption. It is concluded that the use of innovative pedagogical strategies, such as the "Four Seasons Clock", significantly contributed to environmental education, promoting dynamic learning and encouraging the adoption of environ­mentally responsible behaviors.