Investigative Teaching Sequence in Biology Education: Biological Evolution of VertebratesProtagonism; Didactic investigative; Teaching and Learning.
Student protagonism seeks to enable learners to become critical, reflective, and active participants in the teaching–learning process. The objective of this research was to develop an Investigative Didactic Sequence (IDS), promoting the learning of biological evolution through inquiry-based teaching and encouraging student protagonism. The methodology consisted of developing an investigative didactic sequence on the biological evolution of vertebrates, which subsequently served as the basis for creating a practical guide on the activities developed, suggested so that teachers may adapt it to their own contexts and use it as an educational teaching resource.The Investigative Didactic Sequence (IDS) was developed in five stages in 2025 with the 3rd-year Bravo class. The first stage involved presenting the problem situation that intrigues the riverine communities of Luciara, Mato Grosso: Is the boto really a fish? The second stage was carried out over two lessons, during which students presented their research, either refuting or supporting their hypotheses. The third stage was structured over two lessons in which students, through a debate, addressed the guiding question: Which came first, the egg or the chicken? The fourth stage took place over three lessons, in which students developed an adapted memory game about vertebrate classes and presented videos produced in response to the guiding question. The fifth and final stage was carried out over two lessons, during which students produced A3 posters presenting the evolutionary characteristics of vertebrate groups.Therefore, the application of this didactic sequence made evident how this type of pedagogical approach contributes to the development of student autonomy in the learning process.