Gincana intelectual: instrumento de ação extensionista para educação em saúde.

Health education is seen and understood as a social practice that promotes the gradual change of thinking, feeling and acting through the selection and use of participatory teaching methods. This study shows the extension project "Nós na rede: contributions of Odontology to dental education, prevention and health maintenance" which is connected to the Department of Dentistry from State University of Ponta Grossa, state of Paraná, Brazil and approaches health education as a fundamental requirement in dental practice. This paper presents a activity named Intelectual Scavenger Hunt (Gincana Intelectual) which promotes basic information related to oral health to children between eight and twelve years old. The competition consists in three educational games, which aim to provide a good and educational activity. We conclude that this form of play activity exposes itself as a facilitator of information sharing and motivate children in search of healthier behaviors concerning oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]