WE PROPOSE! STUDYING THE PLACE IN THE MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

In this text, we address the development of the "We Propose! Unioeste" Project (PNPU), through a study of place, in the municipality of Itapejara D'Oeste/PR, with joint actions between students, school, community, and public authorities, through the exchange of experiences between researchers-teachers-students, and with the participation of the local community. The partner institutions are: University of Lisbon/IGOT, State University of Western Paraná (Unioeste), Pato Branco Regional Education Center (NRE), and the Irmão Isidoro Dumont State School - Elementary Education. Sixty students from two 8th-grade classes directly participated in this research proposal. The main objective was to characterize the historical-geographical territorial process of the municipality, through the study of the subjects' place of residence, guided by the teaching and learning process of Geography. The geographical category highlighted is place, due to the need for data and information that enable the study of the municipality as a geographical territory, a fact that reflects the lack of didactic resources that address these contents and concepts. The research methodology was the case study, supported by writings and accounts from students, family members, and pioneers of the municipality. Interviews were conducted with the urban population and rural communities, seeking elements and facts that would elucidate the territorial constitution, occupation, and modifications in the geographical space throughout the 61 years of the municipality, since there are no records about its origin, nor about the historical-geographical process.