Data analysis and discussion The data analysis allowed us to identify

differences, seeking their respective meaning processes.

1st moment

The drawings made before the observation session, highlight the following features: All drawings have the shape of an almost perfect circle; In most drawings we observed the predominance of more than one colour (14 in 18); In all we examined the presence of the representation of sun rays; The design of the Sun has human properties in 16 out of 18 drawings: the Sun talks, smiles, and presents itself as a more masculine or more feminine (which is highlighted by the choice of colours, the shape and length of the solar rays, which are similar, often to the longer or shorter hair, etc.).. We found some drawings where the sun seems to have a personality and even a peculiar name; In none of the drawings was verified the presence of sunspots.

What we find in the overall of the drawings is a representation of the cultural significance of this object rather than its detail or materiality (as Barthes says cit. in [9]). We find ourselves with the reproduction of the concept "Sun", with what it represents (good

disposition, colour and light). The image was formed from what they see and what they experience, which naturally includes entertainment products and advertising. Furthermore, it is also an expression of the designer himself. Somehow, the representation of the Sun appears in the image and likeness of the author (irreverent, male or female, with or without glasses). Referring to the historical and cultural significance of the Sun, Durand [6] adds that "the Sun means first of all light and supreme light". Continues by emphasizing that, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, Christ is constantly compared to the Sun, being valued in a positive way by their "luminous rise" (ibid). It is in the east that this star is born, making it a "loaded term of beneficent meanings" because the east means the dawn and possesses a sense of origin (ibid). Martins [14] reinforces this idea "To the west, the stars became therefore a history of meaning, and even a history of salvation, as the Christian sense is in a star that rises in the east" (p. 131). "At the symbolism of the Sun connects, finally, the solar corona" analogy with the Christian or Buddhist halo [6].

Therefore, the social significance of the Sun takes us to an idea of transcendence, of divinity, of intangibility.

2nd moment

After being the target of an observing session, using an optical instrument (telescope), the following changes are observed in the representations of the Sun: We can see the predominance of an oval shape to draw the contours of the Sun (11 out of 18); In most drawings it has been selected just one colour (yellow) to paint the Sun (14 out of 18); The sun's rays only appear in 5 of the drawings; The Sun loses

its anthropomorphic characteristics; Sunspots appear on all drawings, in some cases, abundant and evenly distributed, in other cases, they are scarce and predominantly in a peripheral place in the Sun (the actual position of the spots in that day of the observation).

In the second phase the children rationalize the representation of the Sun, not giving much importance to the creative and cultural representation, to make room for objectivity, and similarity. It is noted the intention of reproducing the model, creating a similarity. When the drawings made in this second moment are compared to each other, we can see greater uniformity: the majority is mostly monochromatic, with a predominance of yellow colour, all present sunspots and human characteristics are not observed. It is the hegemony of the representation of sunspots.

In this case we are dealing with an approach to a representation of a scientific image, as described by Joly [12]. This representation came from viewing a particular phenomenon, the presence of spots on the surface of the Sun, that was complemented with an explanation which allowed for a more concrete observation, attentive to detail, objective and situated.

Scientific images seek to represent phenomena, allowing a questioning observation. The use of the instrumentation, of technoscience (here with the meaning of science that is applied in technology, which in this case has resulted in the use of an optical telescope) aims to observe and then reproduce images. Normally the interpretation of images in science, particularly in the "exact" sciences, requires more than observation, advancing to the explanation.

3rd moment

At this time the children are in the 2nd year of the first cycle of basic education. Being seven months since the day of the solar observation and without any reference to that day they returned to draw the Sun. We found the following characteristics in the drawings: Predominance of the circular shape (10 out of 18); As for the colour, the Sun appears with more than one in half of the drawings while only one (yellow) is chosen to paint the remaining; Solar rays have a distinct presence (11 out of 18); There is no reference whatsoever, to anthropomorphic characteristics of the Sun in the drawings; Sunspots appear in 11 drawings. The number of spots shown is variable and the spots are located predominantly around the Sun, distributed in a scattered way, usually being reduced in size.

In this third moment the representation of the Sun children do, includes the knowledge they have about it. Although there has been no reference to the day of solar observation, the information obtained in the session appears referenced in most drawings.

When the drawings made at this point are compared with each other, there is a variety of shapes and colours, used with creativity and imagination.

We note that there are two predominant drawing types differentiated by the presence or absence of sunspots. The seven drawings that have no sunspots are very similar to each other: circular shape of the sun, yellow appears as the predominant colour and six of the drawings feature sunrays. But the drawings with the presence of sunspots, if compared among themselves exhibit greater diversity, either by choice of representation, or not, from sun rays, by location and

distribution of the spots, as well as the choice of form and colour, despite continuing to predominate the yellow colour.