Travelling aquarium

In honour of Marine Week, Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town put together a travelling aquarium which visited a few schools in the Western Cape. Nature’s Valley Trust was asked to partner in this, and as part of NVT Shirley and I joined Plettenberg Bay Primary grade 7’s for their presentation. There was a dual purpose: one being geared at educating the kids about 3 common sea creatures, which were in touch ’pools’ for the kids to experience and dialogue about, and the second being a group exercise helping the children understand the fishing industry and the importance of size limits and bag limits. I thoroughly enjoyed the touch pools, as did all the kids (!) whereas the fishing exercise was more demure but very interesting. I was so surprised by the intelligence of some kids, but also by the ignorance of others. All in all a wonderful time, and an inspiring initiative, travelling school to school with a truck full of sea creatures leaving heads full of knowledge.

A table set-up with a touch 'pool'.

A sea anemone.

Learning about the importance of size and bag limits.

A powerful teaching aid!