Entomologia forense: proposta de uma sequência investigativa sobre a classe insecta no ensino médio

Abstract

This study discusses inquiry-based teaching as a pedagogical strategy in Biology Education, focusing on forensic entomology applied to the study of the Class Insecta in high school. The objective was to analyze the pedagogical potential of this approach and to develop an investigative teaching sequence inspired by crime scene analysis procedures. The research is characterized as qualitative and theoretical-propositional, conducted through a bibliographic review of national scientific databases, including studies on inquiry-based teaching, forensic entomology, and the use of insects as educational resources. Based on the analyzed literature, an investigative teaching sequence was developed, structured in stages involving problematization, observation, experimentation, and problem solving, using decomposition models and fictional scenarios related to the estimation of the postmortem interval. The results indicate that inquiry-based teaching promotes the development of critical thinking, scientific argumentation, and a deeper understanding of the ecological and applied importance of insects. It is concluded that forensic entomology is a promising pedagogical resource for making Biology classes more dynamic, contextualized, and aligned with the Brazilian National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC), while also stimulating students’ interest in scientific investigation.