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The City's library and information services joined forces with the Johannesburg Planetarium and Ivory Park Secondary School to bring the wonders of astronomy, maths, science and technology to learners.
Grade 12 learners from Ivory Park Secondary School were given career counselling and assessments
MATHS, science and technology were highlighted at an all-day Psyched 4 Science event, hosted by the City's library and information services unit, in conjunction with the Johannesburg Planetarium and Ivory Park Secondary School.
Learners and parents were invited to participate on the day, on 13 May. The aim was to explain the importance of maths, science and technology and to encourage learners to consider careers in these fields - thus helping to reduce the high skills shortage in these sectors.
The day started out on a high note as 400 learners in grades 8 and 9 were taken to the Planetarium at the University of the Witwatersrand to learn about our solar system. Other activities were held at the school for learners who did not make the journey.
Indigenous knowledge
Joburg library staff and teachers at the school supervised the remaining 2 300 learners, who got to play indigenous games held to promote indigenous knowledge systems. Not only were these games fun, they also taught the children indigenous science outside the classroom.
They learned a number of skills through diketo, sharpened their memories with morabaraba and the Omo game, and kept fit with kgathi, gumboot dancing and backto-not, or African cricket. Inter-active skills were also taught through a variety of other games.
The 307 Grade 12 learners were given career counselling and assessments on which career paths they would like to follow, as well as much-needed information on bursary schemes and other financial options available to them to further their studies.
They were encouraged to make use of the libraries that were closest to them, namely the Ivory Park North Library, Ivory Park Extension 2 Library and Rabbie Ridge Library, where there was information and help from dedicated staff - all for free.
There was a power failure during preparations for the night shows, but the few moments without power did not dampen the spirits of the learners or adults.
Soon all was back to normal and activities were under way again. The principal, E Mamosebo, spoke to those at the school, highlighting the importance of education and the involvement of parents and companies in education.
The school choir, conducted by KG Maduma, also performed.
Astronomy show
This year is International Year of Astronomy. In celebrating this, the learners were divided into groups for the astronomy activities and information provided by the Johannesburg Planetarium.
Astronomy students used telescopes to show the learners and the parents Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun
A Wits drama student, Sihle Selone, narrated a story about the stars and how they came to be, incorporating facts about the planets and stars learned at the planetarium.
Selone said this pricked the learners' interest, evident in the questions that arose from the schoolchildren regarding astronomy.
Claire Flanagan, the planetarium director, and astronomy students used telescopes to show the learners and the parents the planet Saturn. Interestingly, Earth is the third planet from the sun, but the planet of the night Saturn, the sixth from the sun, could be seen. It is possible to see this planet because it is directly above the horizon.
Planets that are visible in the morning are Venus and Jupiter.
More information about career choices, astronomy, maths, science and technology is available at City libraries and the Johannesburg Planetarium, free of charge.
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