Introduction. Using the expanded concept of health, the determination of the environment over it and care as the driver of the relationship between them, it is important to analyze conceptions about the environment and health of students at a public school in the vicinity of a fishing community exposed to the increase of environmental degradation , aiming at the promotion of educational health practices by nurses.

Objectives. To analyze the relationship between environment and health in the view of students, in view of the three-dimensionality of care, based on Leonardo Boff.

Methods. Qualitative study, with a participatory approach, of the case study type. 24 students from the 6th year of elementary school participated in the study. As a data production technique, semi-structured interviews were used. For data analysis, Bardin Content Analysis was chosen with the aid of the Atlas ti software.

Results. Two categories of analysis emerged - Environment: students' conceptions; and Environment that generates health and environment that generates disease.

Conclusions. Environmental issues are not limited to the preservation and conservation of nature. Promoting reorientations in socioenvironmental and health issues raise another profile of nurse educators, committed not only to the care of human beings, but with the transformation of the human / environment relationship based on three-dimensional care.