Salud ambiental desde la extensión universitaria para promover conciencia ambiental en una escuela primaria especial

Background: the global environmental crisis characterized by climate change and ecosystem degradation demands urgent responses from all spheres of society. In this context, Cuban universities assume a leading role by transferring knowledge and promoting sustainable practices in the educational community through their university extension work.Objective: to propose pedagogical actions that strengthen the environmental health of primary school children through university extension.Methods: a descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted at the "Fructuoso Rodríguez" Special Primary School during the 2022-2023 academic year. Theoretical methods were used: historical-logical, analysis-synthesis, and induction-deduction; empirical methods: documentary analysis of the curriculum and a student questionnaire; and statistical-mathematical methods. Teachers acted as experts to validate the proposals.Results: students demonstrated a high level of environmental awareness overall, although deficiencies in waste management were identified. Based on the diagnosis, university extension pedagogical actions were proposed that link medical sciences with environmental education in special primary schools. These actions promote environmental awareness in the school setting, extending to home. These include the creation of interest groups, nature walks, recycling, and energy-saving campaigns, among others, with the participation of university students.Conclusions: levels of environmental awareness among third-grade students at the "Fructuoso Rodríguez" Special Primary School were determined, and a proposal was made for pedagogical actions involving the participation of university students to promote environmental awareness among students and schools.