CeBER Outreach September 2014: Siyazakha Primary School

CeBER Community Outreach Report

by Thandazile Moyo

On the 30th September 2014 the (CeBER) staff and postgraduate students went on a community outreach trip to visit the grade six pupils of Siyazakha primary school in Philippe. The aim of the outing was not to educate the young learners, rather to spend an afternoon of fun with them while carrying out demonstrations based on science principles. The group of CeBER volunteers set up seven stands and students took turns to visit them. The interactive demonstrations included:

1. Making an erupting volcano using vinegar, bicarbonate soda, food colouring and the volcano shell (mountain) made from clay;

2. Building density towers using honey, water, oil, milk and some food colouring, blowing balloons from gas (CO2) released bicarbonate soda, vinegar or lemon juice;

3. Powering up a LED, light bulb using potatoes or apples as a battery;

4. Cleaning of copper coins using vinegar and salt.

During the course of the day, the scholars had an opportunity to look at insects and flowers under microscopes, courtesy of Zeiss microscopy. The day closed with the grade 6 learners enjoying a snack of doughnuts and juice and the pupils did not go home empty handed; they took home rubber band propelled paper cups they had built with Tobi Louw, as well as some bags and glue sticks they won for participating in some demonstrations that were donated by the Faculty of Engineering and Build Environment. Overall the CeBER team felt that the outing was a success and each volunteer left having learnt a few lessons themselves, particularly those who had never had the opportunity to visit Philippe before. In observing the responses from the students, it caught the attention of the team that the pupils were in-fact intrigued by witnessing the racial diverse CeBER team work together. Many thanks to Prof Sue Harrison for supporting this initiative and Zeiss microscopy for providing the microscopes for use in the outing.