Walking Tall Educational Project

One of the projects within PAST’s portfolio is the educational learner project WalkingTall. This initiative developed from workshops presented to learners at fossil sites near the Sterkfontein Caves between 1997 and 2002.  These workshops were presented almost exclusively to private schools in a position to afford this privilege. It became clear to PAST that the workshops required a far broader reach, specifically targeting previously disadvantaged learners who now had to engage with the topic of evolution and palaeontological science within the public school curriculum.  To address this need Walking Tall was developed.

Arts and Culture and its obvious link to Heritage provided the perfect vehicle for bringing the science of palaeontology to previously disadvantaged schools.  To that effect a theatrical performance explaining the concepts of human evolution was written and cast in 2002.  Teacher workshops were held at various Teacher Centres around Gauteng to introduce the project to educators and to facilitate the booking of the show to perform at their schools.  A curriculum-based learner booklet was produced providing information and outcomes-based lesson plans to both educators and learners.  

In 2006 a second Walking Tall team was launched in Gauteng and thus far the programme has reached nearly 100 000 learners in the province. The need for a simple and effective tool (theatre and workshops) to teach the concept of evolution (which underpins the teaching of natural sciences) to South Africa’s diverse learner and adult audiences is clear and we now stand poised to expand Walking Tall into a nationwide project benefiting previously disadvantaged learners countrywide.  A long-term focus must also be applied to reach rural learners and to ensure that adult education and awareness is also incorporated.

Our main objectives are

• To provide educators and learners with an overview and specific information about evolution our common human heritage and Arts and Culture.
• To create practical applications through stimulating interest in careers in Science and Arts and Culture. To stimulate interest in the many sciences involved in the study of human origins and to make these sciences accessible to scholars across the social and economic spectrum through the medium of theatre.
• To excite and educate learners about the astounding hominid found in South Africa and Africa.
• To promote science particularly to previously disadvantaged schools, through physical theatre.
• To show teachers how to utilise the theatre medium for any subject in the curriculum without props, dialogue or scripts. Teachers are also taught to use theatre as a teaching tool in a cross- curriculum manner
• To create in young learners a national identity and pride of South Africa and Africa about the Cradle of Humankind
• To create an awareness among young learners of the richness, depth and long history of our cultural and human heritage.
• To show learners the importance of being Proudly South African

Produced by:

Andrea Leenen
Greg Melvill-Smith
Sibulele Gcilitshana

Original cast members:

Den Antonakas
Sibu Gcilitshana
Mahlubi Kraai

Acknowledgements:

Walking Tall wishes to thank the following sponsors for their generous support:

Principal Sponsor

FirstRand Foundation

General Sponsor

JP Morgan

Walking Tall also wishes to acknowledge the scientists and excavators who research and preserve Africa’s wonderful fossil heritage.

Bookings

To book a 'Walking Tall' performance for your school please contact: