UM brings nature and wildlife into learning
On 17 October 2025, the lush greenery of Rimba Ilmu urban garden of Universiti Malaya came alive with laughter and curiosity as twenty-seven children aged between four and six from Little Footprint Kindergarten, Ara Damansara, accompanied by five teachers, including the kindergarten’s headmaster, participated in “Wildlife on Wheels”, an interactive educational programme organised by students from the Faculty of Science under the University Malaya Ecology Biodiversity Society (EcoBio UM) in collaboration with Rimba Ilmu’s management.
The aim of the programme was to give early exposure to Malaysia’s diverse wildlife and plants in a way that is simple, engaging, and easy for children to understand. More than just a day of fun, it aimed to nurture love and care for animals and the environment from a young age. The hands-on approach and interactive learning experience were intended to make it easier for the children to remember what they learned and to inspire them to appreciate the beauty of nature around them.
Throughout the day, the participants took part in a variety of both indoor and outdoor activities. Among the highlights was the “Immerse in the Mini World” station, where the children were introduced to different insect specimens such as butterflies and dragonflies, and to top it off they also got to observe living millipedes. With the assistance of hand microscopes, the children got to explore tiny details of these fascinating creatures, a first-time experience for many of them. In another station called “Insect Puzzles”, the children were shown real insect specimens and asked to assemble puzzles that matched each specimen, turning learning into an exciting challenge.
Other activities conducted throughout the programme included an interactive game titled “Who’s Sound Is This?”, where participants listened to recordings of wildlife calls and identified the corresponding animals. The activity encouraged active participation and helped the children familiarise themselves with Malaysia’s native fauna in an engaging manner.
In addition, two creative art stations, Seni Daun and Topeng Haiwan, provided opportunities for the children to express their artistic abilities. At the Seni Daun station, participants used ferns and leaves as natural stamps to create their own artwork, promoting creativity and appreciation of nature’s textures and forms. Meanwhile, at the Topeng Haiwan station, each child coloured and decorated an animal mask, encouraging creativity and while helping them learn more about local wildlife.
All activities conducted throughout the programme were thoughtfully planned and organised by the student committee to ensure that learning took place in an engaging and meaningful way. Each station was designed to encourage active participation, stimulate curiosity, and create opportunities for hands-on exploration. The careful planning and coordination by the organising team ensured that the activities were not only educational but also enjoyable for the children, aligning closely with the overall objectives of the Wildlife on Wheels programme.
All in all, the Wildlife on Wheels programme was a success as it effectively achieved its objectives of fostering curiosity, creativity, and environmental awareness among young children. The participants showed great enthusiasm throughout the activities, demonstrating that learning about nature can be both educational and enjoyable. The headmaster of the kindergarten expressed hope that more programmes like this will be organised in the future, emphasizing that children should not only learn within the classroom but also gain valuable exposure through outdoor and interactive activities.
Further details about the program can be acquired from Ts. Dr. Noorhidayah Mamat, advisor of EcoBio UM and senior lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, at nhidayahm@um.edu.my