The separation of solid waste as a pedagogical strategy to promote care for the planet in transition students.

In the municipality of Mocoa in the department of Putumayo, the Pío XII educational institution is located in a picturesque environment surrounded by lush vegetation and crystalline rivers; here, nature is not only a backdrop, but it becomes an invaluable educational resource for students, whose learning experiences are enriched by the natural environment that surrounds them. In this context, teachers and parents unite in a common purpose: to form responsible citizens committed to protecting the environment. Classrooms become hotbeds of environmental awareness, where every gesture, every word, and every activity are impregnated with the need to care for and preserve our natural environment.

The main concern addressed at the Pio XII Educational Institution of Mocoa, Putumayo, lies in the lack of environmental awareness where it provides a significant opportunity to educate about the importance of recycling, waste separation and waste reduction; a crucial factor in this problem is the lack of specific containers for different types of waste, such as paper, plastic, glass or organic matter, which hinders the effective separation of waste; this scenario may lead to an increase in the amount of waste sent to landfills and a decrease in the amount of recycled materials, a discrepancy in perceptions that may indicate the need for greater transparency in communication by local authorities regarding with waste management policies and practices.

This research project aims to establish an environment of learning and discovery where recycling initiatives and strategies emerge for the separation of solid waste, not only as an educational practice, but as a commitment to the future of the planet. Boys and girls, with their curious minds and open hearts, become the protagonists of this story of change and transformation; thus, between laughter and games, between colors and textures, the Pío XII educational community embarks on a journey towards reason, environmental awareness, where each small gesture becomes a step towards a better world.

In this scenario, considering the problem of recycling as a pedagogical strategy to guide transition boys and girls in the Pío XII educational institution of Mocoa, Putumayo in the preservation of the environment, it is decided to use action research as a tool methodological, the choice is justified by its ability to address the problem in a practical, participatory and organized way, involving children as active subjects in the process; action research is characterized by a cycle of planning, action, observation and reflection, with the aim of generating changes and innovations in the reality studied; it is important to highlight that this methodology focuses on solving problems and improving specific situations, with a participatory approach oriented to social change, through the identification of problems, the design of interventions and the evaluation of results.