Fostering Understanding of Water Resources Through an Interactive Sandbox: An Approach in Environmental Education

Abstract

The two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional relief forms is often challenging for children and adolescents and can create obstacles in the learning process of topics related to water resources. This study proposes the conception and implementation of an interactive sandbox as a valuable educational tool for teaching water resources in elementary and secondary schools. The project involves constructing a sandbox equipped with sensors capable of identifying surface alterations, allowing students to create and modify interactive landscapes through visualization, thereby facilitating the learning process. The methodology adopted comprised three fundamental stages: assembling the sandbox, installing technological devices (including a Kinect depth sensor and a computer), and applying the 3D sandbox as an educational resource. Handling this tool provided students with the opportunity to visualize relief forms, exemplify water systems, and simulate phenomena such as rainfall and surface runoff. The presentation of the project in public schools elicited a highly positive response, as the visual appeal of the sandbox captivated and intrigued the audience, regardless of age or educational level. Thus, the sandbox demonstrated its potential as a promising tool, capable of being applied at various levels of education, providing an immersive and engaging understanding of concepts, stimulating exploration, analysis, and decision-making related to water resource management.