Environmental perceptions of elementary school students in the early years regarding environmental impacts in a rural school in Angelim, PE

Students’ environmental perception is essential for understanding the environment, especially in rural schools, where proximity to nature is constant. In such contexts, daily interactions with the environment significantly shape children’s attitudes and behaviors toward nature. Therefore, this research aims to explore students’ environmental perception and identify their attitudes toward environmental impacts within a rural context. To achieve this, a mixed-methods approach (qualitative/quantitative) was used with dynamics such as “Hot Potato” and “Emoticons Dynamics” to evaluate children’s environmental perceptions and attitudes. The results showed a significant sensitivity of children to environmental impacts, with variations influenced by cultural, social and educational factors. Therefore, the research highlighted the diversity of environmental perceptions among students, emphasizing the importance of educational programs tailored to students’ realities to foster ecological awareness and responsibility.