Our three-day programme during the June holidays had the ocean as its theme.
The packed programme included sessions with two wonderful visitors.
On the second day Pedro the Music Man spent the afternoon with the children introducing them to the many different ways in which our long-ago ancestors used kelp to make musical instruments. As one expects with Pedro, the session was very interactive. It ended with the children divided into several groups, each with their own type of instrument, each making up their own rhythms and sounds. Thank you, Pedro, for yet another magical session.
On the third day Thabo Sabeko, one of the Two Oceans Aquarium's outreach teachers, facilitated a session on rockpools. He came armed with six glass containers, each equipped with an anemone, a red starfish, and a spiky sea urchin. The children were entranced. Most were brave enough to take up the invitation to (gently!) touch the three creatures.
While we did not have a full-scale outing in this holiday programme, we did visit our neighbour, the Hout Bay Museum. During the visit the children learnt about the close ties between Hout Bay’s history and the ocean, fish and fishing. As “homework”, the children interviewed one of their older family members about when and why they came to live in Hout Bay. They learnt that each of us has a place in history!
Besides the visits, the programme included a range of arts and craft activities, games, and competitions – all with a link to the ocean. As usual, the children took most of their artworks home with them. However, some of the artworks are now on display in our gallery. These include the children’s own versions of the three-dimensional artwork from Denis’s collection that is currently on display. In the children’s version, the boats are made of folded paper, and the fishing rod from small sticks and thin string. Visitors can also admire the colourful jellyfish with their bright paper-chain arms and legs.
Fitting in with the theme, the last lunch consisted of fish (and chips) from Snoekies. The other lunches were kindly provided by Massimo’s and the Pelican.
