Educational research indicates the importance of developing educational activities starting from the realities and previous knowledge of the public involved. Based on this principle, we conducted an investigation at the Museum of Life (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro), with the aim of better understanding about how visiting the museum influences the formation of healthcare concepts. Fifty-six public high school students who had participated in the Science and Society Project developed at the Museum took part in this survey. The qualitative methodology included the following strategies: application of 56 questionnaires and interviews with 18 of these subjects, before the visit; interviews with 14 students after the visit and with 12 students one year later. The results indicated that the educational activities contributed towards establishing relationships between the main topics covered (history, science, technology, environment and health), thereby expanding the young participants' notions about healthcare.
Health education; Health and environment; Scientific exhibitions; Learning in museums; Meaningful learning
