Kenmere Primary School recently took the top spot in the primary school category at the annual science experiment competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The competition took place at Turfhall Primary School in Athlone on Saturday 9 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hundreds of learners from Grades 4 to 11 from 19 primary and high schools around the city participated in this year\u2019s competition which is run by the provincial education department\u2019s Metro Central Education District (MCED). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The competition was conceptualised by Prof Shaheed Hartley of Advancing Knowledge non-profit company (AK NPC). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
AK NPC is an outreach, support, training and research organisation for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learners from Livingstone High School took the first place in the high school category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learners had to invent creative and innovative exhibitions, experiments, investigations and demonstrations while at the same time explaining the processes that lead to the outcomes of the activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One learner had to present the group and their activities to the judges including scientific explanations of the activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were then scored according to their understanding, handling of equipment, safety, originality, how they present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Angelique Vergotine, a Grade 7 science teacher at Kenmere, says each group had 10 minutes to demonstrate their science activities to the judges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She explains as teachers they selected ten Grade 7 learners to represent the school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vergotine said: \u201cIt was my first time being at the competition, so I didn\u2019t know what to expect. It was amazing to see what the learners came up with and their experiments.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She believes it was the learner\u2019s unique concept that won them first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe learners drew inspiration from the animation film Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/span>. Each learner re-enacted a different character from the film and incorporated science into their 10-minute presentation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mogammad Yaaseen Ryklief, Grade 6 teacher, says it took them about three weeks to prepare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe scientific part took some time because we changed quite a few experiments, we had to grade how difficult and how dangerous each experiment was. On the day the learners carried it out quite well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are so proud of them. It was priceless to see their faces, because they practised every day. But when they heard that they had won they were shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ryklief believes the competition helps build the learners\u2019 confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it\u2019s priceless, especially for public speaking. Having our new science lab helped us prepare. We chose most of the Grade 7\u2019s based on their marks. But all of them are multi-talented. Their drama skills came out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The learners explained that they are thrilled with their achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n