Board game for Windhoek schools makes ‘green’ learning fun

Pupils at Acacia High School in Windhoek are learning more about the environment by playing Enviro Rush, a new board game introduced by Wakapinya Environmental Education.

The game was created to educate children on environmental consciousness.

It has also been extended to Delta Primary and High School.

Enviro Rush is a fast-paced game combining teamwork with environmental education.

Players are divided into teams, and the objective of the game is to describe and guess various environmental terms their team members describe, much like ‘30 Seconds’.

Pupils draw cards with terms like ‘recycling’, ‘green energy’ and ‘climate change’ and have to explain these to their teammates without using specific clue words on the card.

“It’s an exciting way to learn about the environment while fostering teamwork,” says Ester Haikola-Sakaria, the founder of Wakapinya Environmental Education.

She is also a teacher and activist.

“This game is a fun introduction into some important concepts, such as sustainability and conservation.”

Haikola-Sakaria says points are awarded for each correct answer and the team with the most points wins.

Speed and educational content are combined in this game to make it an engaging way for students to learn while having fun.

“At Acacia High School, the game was received with much enthusiasm” Haikola-Sakaria says.

The game provokes discussions on sustainability, aside from being a welcome relief from conventional classroom lessons.

“The response from the pupils has been overwhelming,” Haikola-Sakaria says.

“It’s been incredible to see pupils engage with environmental topics in such an interactive way.

Not only has it made learning exciting, but it’s also fostered teamwork and cooperation among them.”

At Delta Primary and High School, pupils have also become hooked on Enviro Rush, playing the game during break time and after school, she says.

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