Abstract:

Several curricular contents of Natural Sciences of 2nd and 3rd cycles of primary education in Portugal refer to unobservable realities with naked eye. Therefore, students find them difficult to understand. An example is the interrelationship between trees, and vegetation in general, with temperature in ecosystems. This is a relevant issue because it is directly related to real environmental problems such as the prevention of desertification, global warming, as well as the well-being of human populations and urban ecosystems. In fact, e.g. the formation of heat islands has enormous interference with biodiversity, favouring desertification.

This study aims to highlight the potential of technological tools as teaching resources to facilitate the teaching/learning process. It was used infrared thermography technology, which generates images from thermal patterns. It makes observable invisible environmental realities with naked eye. Images are powerful enlightening didactic resources. It is expected that thermograms will facilitate the understanding of the interrelation among vegetation, thermal island, and environmental sustainability. Consequently, they become tools to promote environmental preservation practices.

Keywords:

Natural sciences, ecosystems, trees, vegetation, temperature, heat islands, infrared thermography, sustainability.