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August 4, 2002
CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: Joys of learning
AAO maahaul se seekhein (Let’s learn from the environment) reminds me of my school days when we looked forward to opportunities to escape the dullness of lectures in the classroom and go in for practical lessons in science. Experiments in physics in the laboratory or studying the anatomy of a plant or an animal were a source of great delight. Similarly the arts classes gave us a ball of a time as we engaged in several activities that stretched the imagination. The book under review, which is a collection of experiments, practicals and assignments on the topic of environment for children, brought back fond memories of my school days.
Designed mostly for children of grades 5 and 6, this Urdu textbook — also translated into the Sindhi language — offers plenty to create awareness of the importance of understanding environment and related issues. How the earth, water, air and habitation — all key aspects of the environment — can be improved and saved is the underlying thought that sustains interest throughout.
Each experiment has a ‘goal’ stated at the start of every lesson that explains the relevance of the experiment, followed by complete guidelines for teachers. The “Zindagi kaa jaal”, for instance, lists various aspects of the environment and the students are required to hold a long thread that tells them how all the aspects are interconnected. Being one of the initial experiments listed in the beginning of the textbook, Zindagi also emphasizes the wide web of environmental issues that play an important role in our lives.
“Kitne log” is another interesting experiment on how to calculate the density of the population in the area where the students live.
Maahaul se seekhein is the Urdu translation of the Indian book, Joy of learning, written by the Centre for Environment Education in collaboration with the Vikram A Sarabhoy Community Centre, India. Substantial effort has been put into the book to create awareness about environment among children and the IUCN has done its best to treat it equally well in Urdu and Sindhi for children learning in these languages.
However, there are a few mistakes in the translation which are irritating at times. Also, every experiment starts with a typical phrase, “talaba se kahein ke...” which is a literal translation from English. The illustrations have been indigenized with the boys in the sketches wearing shalwar qameez and the girls in dupattas.
If only the book is taught with the same dedication that it has been developed and published will we create a generation that will help save the world from deterioration and decay.
Writer’s email: Sumernaqvi@hotmail.com
Maahaul se seekhein
IUCN: the world conservation union Education Unit, IUCN, 1 Bath Island Road, Karachi
ISBN 969-8141-30-8
64pp. Price not stated
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