If you're a kid between the ages of 5 and 10, join us for our...MAD LESSON ON MONKEYS!

Monkeys are special. They are mammals just like we are. In Singapoe, we have two species of monkeys that live wild and free. They are the Long-tailed Macaque and the Banded Leaf Monkey. Come learn all about monkeys and other primates and how we can make a positive difference in their lives.

Choose any one of the dates below:

• Saturday, 13 March 2010, 2.30 to 4.30pm
• Sunday, 14 March 2010, 2.30 to 4.30pm

Cost: $15 per child which includes a lovely badge.

Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.

Since its inception in 2007, CTEP has already managed to successfully get one of its major goals going, the education of the young of our environment and all that lives in it. CTEP’s Make a Difference (MAD) lesson on monkeys held at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden at the Botanic Gardens was already its 80th lesson. Attended by 17 little ones aged five to ten, all eagerly listening as Uncle Andrew (Andrew Tay, CTEP’s inhouse naturalist-educator) revealed why they should not feed the monkeys, why monkeys have tails, how monkeys move in troops of 30 members each, that the monkey we all thought we knew so well was actually just one type among many others, that monkeys were arboreal, while we were terrestrial.

An added highlight was the performance given by Vilma D’Rozario’s student-teachers from NIE. They, Andrew, and Vilma, were like partners in crime – or rather creativity – to show to the kids that there’s more to monkeys than just monkey nuts. The NIE trainees used a puppet show, acting, and a story, to fascinate the kids in monkeys, while teaching them how to respect monkeys and their habitat.

CTEP obviously has the right formula for success, knowing what information to deliver, and how to deliver so that children are involved and participate in what they are learning. For example, to teach about types of monkeys (Long-tailed Macacaques and Banded Leaf Monkeys), the children were divided into two groups. Vilma coached one table on the Macacaque with photographs and information cards. Andrew did the same for the Banded Leaf Monkey. Then each table used their info cards and photographs to exchange information.

The children could also draw their impression of monkeys, create their own monkey masks, coloring in a cut-out designed by Andrew. They were also provided worksheets to record their reflections. Such busy bee activities are a CTEP MAD staple forming a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. CTEP opens children’s eyes to a whole totally different world of nature, and shows them practical things they can do to value and protect this world. For the monkey lesson, hopefully at least 17 persons in Singapore will NOT be feeding the monkeys! They definitely know more about monkeys than many adults. For sure, these children know the monkey clap - clap once and give the monkey call kraaaa-kraaaaaa!!!!