SCHOOL ATLAS OF THE SERIDÓ GEOPARK (RN): a pedagogical resource for teaching geodiversity conservation
Geoparque, Serido, Atlas
The territorialization of Geoparks has become an important strategy for geodiversity conservation by integrating environmental protection, education, and sustainable development. Recognized by UNESCO and the only one in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), the Seridó Geopark stands out internationally for its rich geological diversity, which provides opportunities for contextualized educational practices. In the classroom, this concept can be addressed through Geography, particularly in topics related to natural diversity—an area that students often find abstract, partly due to difficulties in reading and interpreting cartographic representations. These themes, however, are required by the Brazilian National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) and, more specifically for the state of Rio Grande do Norte, by the corresponding State Curriculum Document.
This research aims to analyze the potentials and challenges involved in teaching geodiversity, geological heritage conservation, and the dissemination of geoscientific knowledge through the development of the School Atlas of the Seridó Geopark (RN). In this context, the atlas is proposed as a pedagogical resource accessible to students and as a support tool for teachers in the teaching of Physical Geography, contributing to the strengthening of cartographic skills and to the understanding of the physical-natural elements of the territory. The use of an atlas—rich in cartographic representations, photographs, and texts written in accessible language—is essential for developing spatio-temporal reasoning, as guided by the BNCC.
It is expected that this material will foster critical awareness regarding geodiversity conservation and enhance the use of the territory as a source of geoscientific knowledge, bringing schools closer to the local context and valuing the natural heritage of the Seridó region.