THE lush greenery of Rimba Ilmu urban garden of Universiti Malaya was the site of a lively interactive educational programme for kindergarteners.
“Wildlife on Wheels” gave 27 children aged four to six early exposure to Malaysia’s diverse wildlife and plants in a way that was simple, engaging and easy to understand.
The programme aimed to nurture love and care for animals and the environment from a young age, Rimba Ilmu said in a media release.
Throughout the day, the participants took part in indoor and outdoor activities.
Among the highlights was the “Immerse in the Mini World” station, where the children were introduced to different insects such as butterflies and dragonflies aside from live millipedes.
With handheld microscopes, the children explored tiny details of these fascinating creatures.
At a station called “Insect Puzzles”, the children were shown real insect specimens and asked to assemble puzzles that matched each specimen, turning learning into a smart challenge.
Other activities included an interactive game where participants listened to recordings of wildlife calls and identified the corresponding animals.
The activity encouraged active participation and helped the children familiarise themselves with Malaysia’s native fauna, Rimba Ilmu said.
In addition, two creative art stations provided opportunities for the children to express their artistic abilities.
At the “Seni Daun” station, participants used ferns and leaves as natural stamps to create their own artwork, promoting creativity and appreciation of nature’s textures and forms.
At the “Topeng Haiwan” station, each child coloured and decorated an animal mask, encouraging creativity while helping them learn about local wildlife.
The children showed great enthusiasm throughout the activities, demonstrating that learning about nature can be both educational and enjoyable, the organisers added.
The kindergarten principal hoped for more such programmes in the future, emphasising that children should not only learn within the classroom but also gain valuable exposure through outdoor and interactive activities.
The programme was organised by Science Faculty students under Universiti Malaya Ecology Biodiversity Society, in collaboration with Rimba Ilmu.
