In this work we researched social representations of environment in a total of 42 4th graded students from Elementary School, from two public schools located in São Paulo State rural and urban areas cities. The data collection was carried out through document analysis and field research, using the qualitative research techniques. The results showed that the origins of those representations, rated as naturalist and anthropocentric, were mainly associated with the media, the family and religion. We intend to inform the teachers in order to influence the accumulated knowledge of their students and to develop environmentally engaged programs for individual formation.
Social representations; Elementary Teaching; Environment