Young minds were thoroughly entertained at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens Environmental Centre where they were taught about science on 9 April. Kogie Govender from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo who coordinates the event said that the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and Joburg City Parks worked together to bring the programme to the children free of charge.
“The aim of this programme is to motivate children to love science and also to make them realise that science is fun and exciting,” Govender said.
She added that there was a myth that science was abstract and difficult to understand but through such initiatives and activities children will realise that science is exciting as they were involved in the experiments.
“Some of the activities that take place here are science shows and experiments that are done by the children using everyday household items such as the larva lamp that uses oil and water,”she explained.
Govender pointed out that the activities entailed water purification using natural methods and water testing as South Africa was a water scarce country. “We need to motivate pupils to realise that we need to conserve water as well as to keep our rivers and streams in the City of Joburg free from pollution,” she added.
Pupils engaged in a variety of activities such as making a solar fan; creating a rainbow using sunlight; teaching the children how to conserve energy and the importance of solar energy.
Govender encouraged parents to bring their children as they held the event every month at the Botanical Gardens.
Details: Rika Smith 011 782 9597; Kogie Govender 084 901 5027.
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