A importância dos jogos e brincadeiras nos anos finais nas aulas de educação física na rede pública de São João dos Patos - MA

Abstract

Games and play activities are important pedagogical resources in Physical Education classes, contributing to students' motor, cognitive, social, and emotional development. This study aimed to highlight the importance of games and play activities in lower secondary education (Elementary School II) in municipal schools of São João dos Patos, Maranhão, Brazil, seeking to understand how these activities are used by teachers, identify their contributions to student development, and evaluate their effectiveness as pedagogical resources. This field study adopted a descriptive and exploratory design with a quantitative approach and was conducted with seven Physical Education teachers from the municipal school system. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire containing questions related to the participants' professional profile, frequency of use of games and play activities, perceived benefits, and incorporation of these strategies into lesson planning. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. The results showed that all teachers use games and play activities in their classes and recognize their contribution to the holistic development of students. Most participants reported using these strategies two to three times per week, with cooperative and competitive games being the most frequently employed activities. Cognitive and motor aspects were the most frequently cited benefits of play-based activities, followed by social and emotional aspects. Furthermore, all teachers stated that games and play activities should receive greater recognition and appreciation within the school context. It is concluded that play-based activities are widely recognized as effective pedagogical tools, capable of making the teaching-learning process more dynamic, participatory, and meaningful, thus promoting the comprehensive development of students.