Astronomy teaching: common conceptual mistakes found in Science textbooks

Abstract

This paper takes into consideration Astronomy conceptual mistakes present in Science textbooks, in order to help teachers, since this resource is, in many cases, the only one teachers consider when preparing their didactical activities. Aiming to help them in pedagogical practice, this paper shows a bibliographical survey of the most common conceptual problems found, according to former work done by Science Education researchers in the last few years. We also report brief reflections about possible teaching and learning problems due to those mistakes and outcomes of some researches about this subject. It is also included the recent textbooks evaluation undergone in the last years in the called Didactical Textbooks National Plan (PNLD) carried out by the Brazilian Ministry of Education.