Erba’ klassijiet mit-Tmien Sena dalgħodu sfidaw l-elementi u għamlu ‘fieldwork’ fi Clapham Junction u fil-Buskett.
Fl-ewwel sit, l-istudenti stħarrġu l-karatteristiċi tax-xagħri, u nvestigaw kif il-pjanti adattaw ruħhom għal dan l-ambjent tipikament Malti. Minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ ħamrija fonda u n-natura esposta tax-xagħri, il-pjanti huma baxxi u għandhom weraq żgħar biex inaqqsu mill-evapotraspirazzjoni (it-telf ta’ ilma bl-evaporazzjoni mill-weraq).
Fil-Buskett, l-istudenti eżaminaw mill-viċin l-ambjenti tal-bosk u tal-wied, fil-waqt li għamlu minn kollox biex ma jiżolqux xi żelqa fl-għadajjar tat-tajn, bir-riskju li mbagħad ma jitilgħux fil-kowċis biex iwassluhom lura l-iskola! Sabu li f’dawn il-postijiet li huma ħafna iktar imdellija u għonja fl-ilma, is-siġar setgħu jikbru u jħaddru ħafna iktar.
Wara din il-ħidma u naqra mixi mhux ħażin, ma kien fadal xejn għajr li l-istudenti jirritornaw lura l-iskola, ħafna iktar għajjenin imma żgur b’ħafna iktar tagħrif dwar ir-rikkezzi naturali ta’ pajjiżna.
Four classes from Year 8 braved the elements this morning and went on fieldwork to Clapham Junction and Buskett.
At the first site, students investigated the garigue habitat, finding out how plants are adapted to this typical Maltese landscape. Given the shallow soil and the exposed aspect of the garigue, plants are low on the ground and have small leaves to minimise evapotranspiration (the loss of water via leaf evaporation).
At Buskett, the students investigated a woodland and a valley, all while trying to avoid slipping into muddy puddles and worrying whether they would be let back on the transport! They discovered that these much shadier and water-rich habitats permitted far larger trees to flourish, together with a variety of leafy shrubs.
All that was left was to return to school, somewhat tired, but definitely more knowledgeable about our natural heritage.