Woolworths Educational Programmes will offer a number of interactive educational lessons at libraries during the holiday season. With many parents working through the holiday period, keeping kids busy and stimulated has become a real challenge. These holiday lessons offer young children the opportunity to engage in a lively classroom lesson that addresses vital issues, such as the importance of a healthy lifestyle, in a fun-filled manner. Rising levels of child obesity and physically inactive lifestyles, as well as the challenges of engaging children in bringing about a more sustainable world, are currently high on the agenda of the Western Cape Education Department. Woolworths is hosting these entertaining and educational lessons at public libraries in areas like Manenberg and Delft, to encourage and empower learners to take charge of their own well-being and to care for their environment. The lessons use movement, rhyme, storytelling, games and group participation to creatively convey key information about healthy choices and sustainable living to learners. The library lessons are an extension of the Woolworths Educational Programme which is presented to Grade 4s at numerous Western Cape schools during the school year. “The idea behind these highly interactive, entertaining library lessons is to provide a new and innovative platform for teaching important lessons about healthy, sustainable living,” explains Pieter Twine, Woolworths Educational Programmes Manager. “The new library programme gives us an opportunity to reach a wider audience of learners in different grades with these important messages, and provide additional support for Western Cape Education where it is most needed.” The fun-filled, 30-minute lessons help in bringing the curricula to life and innovatively engage learners in an exciting, interactive learning experience. Three different lessons, which have been developed to meet the requirements of specific learning outcomes, are included in the holiday programme: • ‘The Big Stomp – Our Ecological Footprint’, in which kids join in ‘The Big Stomp Rap’ and playing the ‘Earth Safety Game’. Music is a great way for learners to learn and recall the five essential, practical ways that they can reduce their ecological footprint in their community and contribute to a more sustainable environment. • ‘The Great Food Mystery’, which addresses the present-day lack of understanding of where our food comes from. This lesson introduces a story-telling Truth Detective who needs the learners’ help, and uses a fruit and vegetable rap which tells the story of the conditions each need in order to grow. Learners are reminded of our dependence on nature for healthy food. • ‘Healthy Living is Fun!’ gets kids moving and teaches them the basics of a balanced meal. The importance of physical activity and making healthy eating choices is emphasised through the use of movement and rhyme. The interactive and memorable ‘Five to Feel Alive’ activity provided five essential guidelines for healthier living. Check the notice board at your local library for a schedule or speak to your librarian to find out when and where your kids can participate in this programme designed to make learning fun.

Woolworths Educational Programmes will offer a number of interactive educational lessons at libraries during the holiday season. With many parents working through the holiday period, keeping kids busy and stimulated has become a real challenge.