On 1 August, I had the absolute joy of celebrating National Science Week with a group of bright-eyed Grade 7 learners at Oakland Academy in Monte Vista, Cape Town. This exciting event was hosted by Edgemead Library as part of their STEM education programme for schools.
From the very first experiment, the classroom buzzed with energy. Faces lit up with curiosity, and each “Wow!” was like a spark igniting the love of learning. Gasps of disbelief followed the unexpected results, and I could see young minds whirring, eager to figure out the why behind what they had just witnessed.
Not every science experiment went perfectly—and that became one of the most valuable lessons of the day. I reminded the learners, “This is science. We try, we make mistakes, we learn… and then we try again.” It was the perfect opportunity to show them that perseverance is just as important as getting the right answer or making precise measurements.
The same spirit carried into the math challenges. It wasn’t just about solving the puzzle, but about breaking it down—What do we know? What are we trying to find? Watching the students push through frustration to reach that “Aha!” moment was just as rewarding as seeing an experiment succeed.
The 90 minutes flew by, leaving me inspired all over again. My goal isn’t only to teach math and science concepts, but to ignite curiosity, nurture resilience, and help young people see that learning is a thrilling adventure.
Here’s to more hands-on science activities, more “Wow!” moments, more questions, and more bright eyes ready to explore the fascinating world around us.