The Grade 6s had an entertaining outing to the serene Liesbeeck River on 8 May. They thoroughly
enjoyed the last of what seemed to be the warmer weather as well as the beautiful natural surroundings. They learned all about the river, the origins thereof, and some alien vegetation while acquiring some new Afrikaans vocabulary. The aim is to integrate IBL and Afrikaans with some practical outdoor education. Thereafter, they enjoyed a little snack and time to chat before the fun and true exploration started, with the river being in good condition.
With rolled-up sleeves, nets, and buckets, they splashed into the river in search of what the teachers referred to as crawlies: insects, tadpoles, frogs, leeches, crabs, and some interesting organisms. They examined their findings under a magnifying glass and had a tick list for record-keeping purposes. There were some screeches and shrills of excitement as they searched the
river, all the while keeping in mind to respect the tiny creatures at hand.
Some observations from the teachers included Thayer Ramlal explaining that Afrikaans is the ‘slang’ of Dutch, and Claire Williams not exactly knowing how to ‘handle’ a jumping froglet. Let’s not forget that children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them. A note from their leader is to remember that what you do at home will have a lasting impact on the river.
