1Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
2Open Laboratory for Science Education, Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers (CIDTFF), Portugal
American Journal of Educational Research.
2023,
Vol. 11 No. 8, 516-524
DOI: 10.12691/education-11-8-6
Copyright © 2023 Science and Education PublishingCite this paper: Rita Santos, Maria Hranchak, Afonso Costa, José Luís Araújo, Ana Pedro. Democracy in school: Democracy in the eyes of the little ones!.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2023; 11(8):516-524. doi: 10.12691/education-11-8-6.
Correspondence to: Ana Pedro, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Email:
ana.pedro@ua.ptAbstract
Education is a process that should prepare individuals for their future experiences as active members of the society in which they belong. Considering that the school reflects society, it is important for Democracy to be present in school communities and their dynamics, aiming to achieve equity of opportunities for all. Following this path, this article addresses developing and implementing an educational project on Education and Democracy directed towards primary school students. The project was conducted with a second-year class (23 students aged between 6 and 8 years old) at a primary school in the district of Aveiro, Portugal. The project involved the collaborative creation of a play titled "Democracy in the Eyes of the Little Ones!" Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the research question "Can artistic expressions promote democracy in the classroom?" was defined. Data were collected through a questionnaire, evaluation sheets and field notes. It can be concluded that artistic expressions serve as a motivating approach to educating students about democracy. In this approach, dramatic expressions transformed the classroom into a microcosm of society, preparing students to become active participants with decision-making abilities in the real world.
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