Over the years The Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA) Education Foundation has been working with children to educate them about the ocean and all the sea animals.The aquarium visits were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.This means that the Oceans in Motion initiative The TOA Education Foundation was also paused.
Following the opening of schools in SA,the initiative is back on the road,visiting schools to teach children about the ocean.The initiative was launched a few years ago to connect Western Cape schools with the ocean after realizing that many children have never seen the ocean, even though it is only a few kilometers away from their townships.
“Our outreach programmes aim to fill that gap, by bringing ocean education to children in under-resourced areas. We have two dedicated teachers that visit a different school every day, during school term, with vibrant and fun vans, filled with educational resources that offer a memorable experience to the children they teach,”commented TOA.
“We currently have two outreach programmes, with different themes, aimed at children in the intermediate phase and grade 7. These programmes are free of charge to under-resourced schools, and available in the greater Cape Town area. Our outreach teachers can see up to 200 children a day, with a maximum of 40 children per class. Our lessons are aligned with the CAPS curriculum and focus on different themes, depending on the age group of the children,”added the foundation.
Thabo who is a “Oceans in Motion” Teacher visits many schools and is able to do the lessons in both English and isiXhosa. He takes live animals along with him so that the children can see them in person.
“Children get the unforgettable experience of touching live sea stars, sea urchins and sea anemones. Thabo also talks about the importance of our environment and our role in keeping it clean and protected. He brings the ocean to children in some of the poorer areas in Cape Town and, hopefully, inspires them to appreciate the amazing ecosystem that they have on their doorstep,” said Thabo.
The Education Foundation encourages schools to sign up for the classes and welcome the team into their schools.Thabo and the team are able to accommodate 200 children in a day, with classes of 40 or less per session.With the pandemic still at play, this is a great way to bring some valuable and educational entertainment with minimal risk.
