An opportunity to get to know the environment and its scientific composition was grabbed by both hands by a school all the way from the West Rand.
This opportunity is called National Science Week and the Delta Environmental Centre which is based in Delta Park offered a programme for youngsters designed to create more interest in science. The centre partnered with Thembile Primary School in Kagiso, Krugersdorp.
Chief executive of the centre, Malusi Vatsha, said reports often indicated that thousands of children in the country often left during their primary school years and therefore he wanted to challenge people to consider and implement a more positive experience for children in school.
“This is aligned with our theme to ‘deepening our democracy through science’. We will focus on exploring biodiversity for learners in grades 4 to 7, where the learners can participate in hands-on, practical and interactive activities with our qualified education officers.”
One of the education officers, Lesego Khunou, addressed the children who engaged and interacted with her.
“The programme is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology. We are going to learn about ‘nature house’ which is a house built using natural resources.”
Khunou further demonstrated to the children how the nature house was built out of water, air, sun and sand. She said, “Humans exist to protect the nature house but that does not seem to be the case as they seem to be the ones destroying it. I urge you to take care of the environment.”
Another education officer, Happy Mkhabela, took her designated group of children outside and gave them various activities to do.
One of the activities included an interactive session discussing the food chain with Mkhabela asking children questions while they answered and wrote some notes.
Another group of children was taken to the Natural Sciences Museum by education officer Morongwa Madonsela who explained to them about extinct birds, animals and rodents who used to exist.
Other exhibits the different groups visited were the Biodiversity Room, Water Room and Energy Room.
Details: Delta Environmental Centre www.deltaenviro.org.za
Tell us what activities you are doing to preserve the environment by email to naidines@caxton.co.za
