Historical knowledge and small children: children’s playgrounds and the state’s primary education

Abstract

This article discusses an experience with the project “The children’s playgrounds of Mario de Andrade, yesterday and today”, undertaken by all the professionals and children of a state primary school in the city of São Paulo. The concern with historical knowledge and the children in the first years of primary school, with their specific qualities, their un-schooled perspective and their inability to predict the school’s teaching approach, was the keynote of this study and the challenge faced. A link between history and memory is sought, establishing a relationship between the History of Education, the history of small children being schooled and teacher training.