From endangered animals to planets in space

On Saturday 27th October, students of the MYP went on field trips to Nehru Zoological Park, the India Meteorological Department, and the Birla Science Centre. This was an opportunity for our Senior School learners to see real world application of the things they learn in their science classes.

The Nehru Zoological Park is a 65 year old, 380-acre zoo maintained by the Telangana Forest Department. It was set up to breed, rehabilitate and protect endangered animals. Grades 6 and 7 visited the zoo where they got to see hyenas, giraffes, Indian porcupine, and a magnificent white tiger. “I really enjoyed the owl safari,” said Suzanne Lirani of grade 7K. “It was like being in a haunted house.”

Grade 8 went to the Hyderabad observation station of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the foremost agency in the field of meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology in India. Students learned about the tools of measurement used by the department, and about how they forecast the weather and warn us about earthquakes. “We could connect what we learned at the meteorological department to our last unit in grade 7 about waves,” reflected Pratibha Priya of grade 8K.

At the Birla Science Centre, students of grades 9 and 10 went to the Birla Planetarium, a wing of the institution dedicated to astrophysics and astronomy. Students learnt about the physics of illusions sometimes seen in films, about our planet, and significant adaptations of animals. “This trip made us think beyond our world,” said Pahel Lalani of grade 10. “We learnt that it is important to be flexible enough to explore the darkness of the universe.”

To give our students every opportunity to explore their interests, the Academy plans trips like these that add a tangible dimension to what they learn at school. We aim for our students to go on to become leaders in their field and part of this to develop a healthy curiosity in them about the world.