Educational Activities and Programmes

Educational Activities for Primary
and Secondary Schools

Education lessons

Lessons on offer to school groups in 2011

The lessons listed below, which are curriculum-orientated and enriching, are presented to groups of 10 or more learners by prior arrangement.

Please book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Entrance fees

R1.00 per learner; R3.00 per educator.

Bookings to be made with Tebogo, Sandra, Ancilia or Andries (tel. +27 51 447 9609 or e-mail: tebogo [dot] mohlakane [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za).

Each lesson lasts about 1 hour. Please do not book more than 2 lessons per group per day.

Lessons

Earth and beyond

The Solar System and the Stars (Grades 1-12) Natural Sciences (NS) (1-2 hours)
Universe – an overview of what is out there (Grades 5-12) NS (1-1½ hours)
Natural Disasters – tsunami, hurricanes, etc. (Grades 5-12) NS / Social Sciences (SS) (1 hour)
Continental Drift and Volcanoes – plate tectonics and how volcanoes work (Grades 4-12) NS (1 hour)
Geomorphology (soil) – emphasis on soil, sedimentation, weathering and erosion (Grades 5-9) NS (1 hour)
Geomorphology (rocks) – emphasis on types of rocks and rock cycle (Grades 5-12) NS (1 hour)
Geomorphology Practical Workshop – identifying & sorting rocks (Grades 9-12) (1½ - 2½ hours). NB: Only for small groups (10-50 learners); worksheets necessary @ R2-00 each; can be used for learner assessment
Atmosphere, Wind and Weather (Grades 7-12) NS (1-1½ hours)
The World’s Great Storms – hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones & thunderstorms (Grades 7-12) NS (1-1½ hours)
Pollution and Recycling (Grades 1-6) NS (1 hour)
Water – states, uses, water cycle, pollution, etc. (Grades 1-6) NS / SS (1 hour)
Fossils and Ancient Life – palaeontology, dinosaurs & other creatures of the distant past, including introductory lesson on Fossils and special tour of Palaeontology Hall (Grades 1-9) NS (1 hour)
The History of Life – the story of the evolution of life, from simple single-celled organisms to complex multi-cellular creatures, with special reference to fossils found in South Africa (Grades 10-12) NS (1-1½ hours)
Fossils - what fossils are, how they form, how they are dated, etc. - can be presented on it's own, or as a short introduction to The History of Life and/or Human Evolution (Grades 5-12) NS (½ hour)
Mass Extinctions - when huge percentages of living organisms die out (Grades 10-12) NS (1 hour)

Living things

Bees – their lives and behaviour, their importance to us (Grades 1-9) NS (¾ -1 hour)
Reptiles – snakes, lizards, crocodiles, tortoises (Grades 1-9) NS (1-1½ hours)
Birds – adaptations, way of life, kinds, importance (Grades 1-9) NS (1 hour)
Amphibians – frogs and their relatives (Grades 1-6) NS (1 hour)
Mammals – characteristics, plus mammals on display in the Museum (Grades 1-6) NS (1 hour)
Metamorphosis – how tadpoles change into frogs, and caterpillars into moths (Grades 1-6) NS (1 hour).

Humankind

Human Evolution – ‘ape-man’ to Homo sapiens (Grades 7-12) SS / NS (1 hour)
The San – a hunter-gatherer way of life, including an introduction to the Stone Age and rock art (Grades 4-9) SS (1-1½ hours)
San Rock Art - an introduction to the San, but with the emphasis on their rock art (Grades 9-12) SS (1 hour)
Old Bloemfontein – history, plus the Museum's Historical Street Scene (Grades 4-6) SS (1 hour)

Other

Natural Science and Maths Investigations (Grades 5-9) NS / Maths
Introduction to Nanotechnology - building with molecules and atoms (Grades 5-12 & Educators)

NB: Not more than 70 learners per session. Learners should bring their own ruler, pencil and calculator.

We are also happy to visit schools in the Bloemfontein/Mangaung area free of charge to present lessons.

Outdoor activities in the grounds of Oliewenhuis Art Museum

Each activity lasts about 1 hour
Book with the Education Department staff at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, tel. +27 51 447 9609.
(Workbooks @ R3 each; these make the activities more interesting but are not essential)

Animal Treasure Hunt – get to know small Free State mammals (Grades 1-6)
Bird Treasure Hunt – learn to identify some common garden birds (Grades 1-6)
Tree Identification Game – get to know Free State trees (Grades 1-8)

Visit to Florisbad Research Station - Archaeological and Palaeontological Site

(about 45 km from Bloemfontein)

Educational visits only
No charge
Small groups (only one busload of learners)
Intermediate and Senior Phase and higher

Find out what the Free State was like 100 000 to 350 000 years ago, and how palaeontologists and archaeologists investigate the evidence from that time.

Book with the Education Department staff at the National Museum, tel. +27 51 447 9609.

All the above-mentioned presentations, demonstrations, etc. are also available to other groups, such as clubs, associations, special interest groups, senior citizen groups, adult education groups and groups from tertiary educational institutions.

Educational Activities for Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase

Take part in a variety of activities at the Museum and experience a boundless world of wonder, where every pre-schooler gets an opportunity to examine and touch ‘real’ animals and where the learners can live out their imaginary worlds.

We are also happy to visit schools and pre-schools in the Bloemfontein/Mangaung area free of charge to present lessons.

Book with Ancilia van Staden (Tel: +27 51 447 9609, ancilia [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za)

Entrance fees

All groups, including pre-primary: Learners R1.00 / Adults R3.00

Special lessons for Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase

Special lesson - third term: Weather

Further details will be available at the beginning of each term.

Other lessons available on request:

Birds
Fish
Honey-bee
Spiders
Animal Olympics
Seasons
Animal Camouflage
A Journey in Space
Weird and wacky animals
Animal Senses
Reptiles
Insects
Healthy Eating Habits
My Country, South Africa
Dinosaurs
Water Fun
A world under the sea

Special Events

The Museum will be celebrating the International Year of Chemistry during 2011.

The following will also be celebrated:

August - National Science Week

Guided Tours

Guided tours of the National Museum are available. A tour lasts about 1 hour and must be booked in advance.

Entrance fee (special price for groups):
R1,00 per learner (pre-school to Grade 12)
R3,00 per adult /educator

For guided tours of Oliewenhuis Art Museum, contact Tel. +27 51 447 9609 and ask for Oliewenhuis.

Other places to visit

Freshford House Museum (1897)

(History and different ways of living)

An Edwardian-style home built in 1897.
Open weekdays 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Tel. +27 51 447 9609; ask for Freshford.

First Raadsaal Museum (1849)

(History of the Free State)

The oldest building in Bloemfontein. Served as school, council chamber for government and as a church.
Open weekdays 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Tel. +27 51 447 9609; ask for the Raadsaal Museum.

Wagon Museum

(History of transport)

Wagons and carriages, etc. from the 19th & early 20th century. Situated behind the First Raadsaal Museum.
Open weekdays 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Tel. +27 51 447 9609; ask for the Raadsaal Museum.

To book a guided tour of the First Raadsaal and/or Wagon Musem, contact Elmar du Plessis (Tel: +27 51 447 9609 elmar [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za)

Nasmus