STORYTELLING AS AN INSTRUMENT OF MEDIATION IN SCIENCE TEACHING FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

This article aims to discuss the importance of storytelling as a methodological strategy for teaching science to Elementary School students. To do so, it raises a reflection from the teaching practice of the university outreach project named "Batuclagem and the magic of stories" (PROEC-UFABC 2011-2016). It also analyzes the influence that a story can bring over to the listeners, since, according to Jerome Bruner, stories provide perceptions about reality and, according to Vygotsky, education through art enables a change in the listeners' higher processes - catharsis. It also discusses, according to Paul Zumthor, the influence of storytellers' performance, that is, the use of body and voice in employing this methodological strategy. It is evident that aesthetic education widens the child's higher functions concerning memory, imagination, attention, and strong emotions that can lead to catharsis.