“Matter is constituted by the collective”: a chemistry class in the context of the initial training of indigenous teachers

Abstract

Chemistry education integrated with indigenous knowledge must value the territory, recognize the social practices of each ethnic group, and promote justice and dignity. This paper describes an experience in a chemistry class on the constitution of matter, taught in the Intercultural Training of Indigenous Educators course in the Life and Natural Sciences program at a Brazilian university. In the activity, indigenous students from different groups created drawings to express their explanations of the constitution of matter, enhancing the understanding of atomic theory and illustrating the complex relationship between living and non-living entities. In this way, indigenous knowledge was linked to chemistry education, problematizing the relationship between humans and materials and promoting diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. This report may be useful for teachers and researchers interested in chemistry teaching methods in intercultural contexts.