Knowledge of the Taufik Germano school community about medicinal plants

Abstract

This research was conducted by a 5th-grade class at Tufik Germano Municipal Elementary School, a rural school located in Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study emerged from Science and Religious Education classes, in which students explored the relationship between medicinal plants and popular knowledge. From this context, the research question was defined: what does the school community know about medicinal plants? The general objective was to understand the knowledge related to medicinal plants within the community. The specific objectives included identifying which plants are cultivated in households, analyzing whether such knowledge is transmitted across generations, and understanding how these plants are used in daily life.The methodological approach involved the application of an online questionnaire via Google Forms, collaboratively developed by the students and shared through WhatsApp groups of families from 5th to 9th grade, as well as two narrative interviews with community members. Data analysis revealed that knowledge about medicinal plants is predominantly transmitted within the family context, especially by parents and grandparents, and that tea preparation is the most common form of use. Some of the initial hypotheses were confirmed, such as the diversity of plant species mentioned and the preparation methods adopted. However, aspects such as specific time schedules for use and associations with religious practices were not evident in the analyzed reports. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing and valuing community-based knowledge, as well as fostering dialogue between school and community to promote shared learning processes and the preservation of cultural practices.