Science Enrichment

Guardians of the Deep has a Marine Science and Nature Conservation curriculum that spans Grade 1 to Grade 11, covering topics such as Antarctica, the deep ocean, terrestrial conservation and even the concept of ovoviviparous reproduction!

Our topics are broken up into the following age groups:

Educational curriculum slide for the 'Grade 1-3 Pups Marine Crew' program, featuring a stingray illustration over an underwater background. The slide details: Year 1 covers 'All About Me,' 'Shapes and Colours,' 'At School/Home,' 'Reptiles/Insects,' 'Patterns,' 'Nursery Rhymes,' 'Farm Animals,' 'Fruit and Veg,' 'Transport,' 'Ocean Animals,' 'Seasons,' 'People Who Help Us,' 'Our Senses,' and 'My Family.' Year 2 covers 'Beachcombing and Biodiversity,' 'Sizes in nature,' 'Terrestrial Ecosystems,' and 'Becoming a Guardian of the Deep.' Year 3 covers 'Ocean’s Role in Our Weather,' 'Special Species Adaptations,' 'Plants and Seeds,' and 'How Water Connects Us.'
Educational curriculum slide for the 'Grade 4-5 Blues Marine Crew' program, featuring a penguin illustration over an underwater ocean background. The slide outlines Year 1 terms: The Power of Our Choices, Famous Fives, Let’s Talk Science, and River Life and Micro Habitats. It also outlines Year 2 terms: History of the Ocean, Geology Rocks!, Fynbos Life, and Terrestrial IUCN Red List.
Educational curriculum slide for the 'Grade 6-7 SeaStars Marine Crew' program, featuring a starfish illustration over a blue ocean background. The slide outlines Year 1 terms: Ocean Zones, Awesome Ocean Species, Roles of Marine Life, and The Power of Our Choices. It also outlines Year 2 terms: Surviving in the Ocean, Who Cares?, Rivers (Connecting Land and Sea), and Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Educational curriculum slide for the 'Grade Raggies 8-9 Marine Crew' program, featuring a shark illustration over a water-themed background. The slide outlines Year 1 terms: Rocky Shore Biodiversity, Ocean Coexistence, Ocean as a Resource, and Marine IUCN Red List. It also outlines Year 2 terms: Ocean Research, Ocean Ambassadors, Awesome Ocean Phenomena, and The Power of Our Choices.
Educational curriculum slide for the 'Orcas Marine Crew' program, outlining two years of study. Year 1 covers Marine Phyla, Physicochemical Elements, Geological Features, and Ecosystem Dynamics. Year 2 covers Climate Change, Carbon Footprint, Scientific Method, and Ocean Careers, set against a sunset ocean background with an orca illustration.

Wetland Warriors

Wetland Warriors was started as a way in which to take science enrichment out of the classroom and into the field, showing students how to take the scientific skills that have been taught in the classroom and use them to make a difference. Combining citizen science, habitat restoration, community engagement and species lists creation, the students are able to be the change-makers in their community and lead by example. This form of science enrichment takes learning to the next level.

This model is currently offered to the students of Silvermine Academy and supported by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

Title slide for the 'Wetland Warriors' science enrichment program at Silvermine Academy, hosted by Guardians of the Deep. The image features a scenic view of a wetland with tall reeds reflecting in the water, the organization's logo in the corner, and the website address displayed at the bottom.
An educational slide titled 'What is Wetland Warriors?' by Guardians of the Deep. The slide features imagery of a bird and native flowers, and outlines two program pillars: '01 Science Enrichment' (covering weekly sessions, scientific methods, biological concepts, and citizen science) and '02 Community Conservation' (covering environmental advocacy, science communication, and shifting perspectives)
An educational slide from Guardians of the Deep titled 'Citizen Science,' explaining the monitoring of invertebrate biodiversity to determine water quality at Chebec Pond. The slide lists species like worms, leeches, crabs, and dragonflies, notes seasonal ecological data, and includes a photograph of a grasshopper on a reed and a close-up of an aquatic insect in a water tray
An educational slide titled 'Species List' from Guardians of the Deep, displaying 41 observations of 35 species. The graphic lists fauna such as crabs, fish, and insects, and categories for flora, alongside photos of a dragonfly and a submerged reptile, with a link to the Sun Valley Wetland Warriors iNaturalist project.
A presentation slide titled 'Topics Covered' by Guardians of the Deep, featuring a bird illustration and a list of educational modules including Biological Surveys, Microhabitats, Water Harvesting, Scientific Drawings, and Science Communication.
Event flyer for the Wetland Warriors Festival hosted by Guardians of the Deep, detailing a two-day community event on 24 and 25 June featuring a wetland hike, clean-up, and educational activities with local environmental partners.

Kleinberg/Kirstenbosch Outreach Greening Programme

This is the beginning of an exciting partnership between Kleinberg Primary School and the South African National Biodiversity Institute as they take part in a series of workshops in which the students develop ideas for their own school garden. During the programme introduction, students thoroughly enjoyed ‘pacing the space’ by measuring a potential area and planning how they might use it in terms of planting ground cover, bulbs, shrubs and trees.

We will also be joined by Mutheera Rademeyer from the BosKinnes Environmental Club who will be utilising the information in creating a green space at the BosKinnes Hub in Ocean View. This new partnership promises to create several opportunities for growth both in community connections, small business collaborations and skills development.

People outdoors participating in an environmental workshop.
Students presenting in front of a class.
Students participating in a science enrichment activity outdoors, using a measuring tape to measure the trunk of a tree while an adult supervises nearby.
Students in a classroom working together to hold up a large, hand-drawn map of an environmental site, while an adult teacher looks on and supervises the activity