The summer heat couldn't stop the children’s passion for natural science. On July 31 and August 7, the Shanghai Roots & Shoots Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) program brought two fun nature classes to the East Nanjing Road Summer Daycare. Nearly 120 students learned about water cycle and biodiversity conservation. These classes not only taught environmental protection but also planted seeds of love for nature in the kids' hearts.
July 31: The Amazing Journey of a Water Drop
"Where does water come from, and where does it go?" On July 31, kids learned about the water cycle through a fun bead-stringing game. Each child acted as a little water drop, rolling dice to see where they would travel next—like "rivers" or "soil"—and collecting colored beads along the way.
One boy noticed his bracelet was full of blue and white beads and joked that he kept going to the ocean and the clouds. The teacher used this to show the class a key fact: most water on Earth stays in the atmosphere and oceans. This hands-on game made the water cycle come alive, helping kids realize how precious our water resources are.
August 7: Saving the Singers of the Forest
The August 7 class focused on a rare animal: the Cao Vit gibbon. Kids were surprised to learn that there are only 76 of them left in the world, making them critically endangered. They learned interesting facts, like how these gibbons have no tails, how their arms can stretch 1.5 meters wide, and how males and females have different colors. The students even practiced copying the gibbons' singing calls.
When they heard that human activities were destroying the gibbons' forest homes, the kids were worried. Luckily, teachers shared hopeful news about the nature reserve in Guangxi, China, that is working hard to protect their habitats.
From learning about their habits to discussing how to help, every child cared deeply about the Cao Vit gibbons’ fate. The two-day classes flew by, but the idea of protecting biodiversity had quietly taken root.
As Dr. Jane Goodall said: "Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." During these two days at the summer daycare, from tiny water drops to singing gibbons, the children learned that everything on Earth is connected. They realized that every living thing deserves care, and the green hope for the future rests in their own hands.
