This study aimed to analyze the role played by social interactions and by didactical activities in chemistry classes. We have taken into account aspects of sociointeractionist theory such as proposed by Vygotsky and Leontiev, and their implications and approaches applied to the processes for concept formation. The investigation was carried in a Public School of Recife, PE - Brazil, where different types of didactical activities were proposed in the chemistry classroom. These activities were performed by students in small groups under teacher supervision and analyzed by considering as relevant opportunities for interaction and discussion among students which started from tasks demanded during the classes. The results pointed out the importance in planning activities which encourage students to engage in a collective, cooperative and interactional process in teaching and learning, reinforcing the role played by pairs in the learning and contributing from students in making scientific concepts meaningful.
Social interactions; Didactical activities; Chemistry teaching
