Learners from Spartan High take a trip back in time at Maropeng
Maropeng, in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind, offers exciting tours and accommodation for school-goers of all ages. Each guided tour at the Visitor Centre takes roughly an hour to complete and can accommodate groups of 35 children.
The learners of Spartan High School began their journey of discovering the origins of humankind with an introduction to Maropeng and its major themes of evolution, diversity, sustainability and the unique characteristics of being human.
They then descended into the depths of the Earth, taking a boat ride back in time through the four elements – earth, air, fire and water - before entering a swirling vortex, and emerging in front of planet Earth projected on a giant globe. Here they could see the birth of the continents as we know them today.
Next they enjoyed the large interactive zone where some of the science relating to the study of evolution is demonstrated in fun, giant displays, including the formation of fossils, DNA, and life on Earth. The following section highlighted various species in hominid evolution, including our earliest relations. The tour ended with an original fossil display.
“It is always exciting to have learners in our Visitor Centre,” says Magel van de Venter, education marketing executive at Maropeng. “To see them enjoying the interactive display and being intrigued by the fossils is great fun.”
Rina Breed, life sciences educator at Spartan High School, said, “To have the Cradle of Humankind on our doorstep creates a great sense of pride in being African. This was my fourth visit to Maropeng and, although I think I know it well, I seem to discover something new each time. This is where it all began for us, our roots are here.”
Maropeng is a 10-minute drive from the Sterkfontein Caves and schools can book for the Maropeng Tour that covers the Visitor Centre as well as the Sterkfontein Caves tours. These can be booked as stand-alones or as a combination tour at a discounted rate.
“It’s great to know that these learners walk away with a richer understanding of our past. I know that our next generation of palaeoscientists will come from these school tour groups and it encourages me to see them leaving our centre feeling proud and inspired and, above all, having had lots of fun!” says Van de Venter.