Ibn Majid’s compass highlights sustainability at SCRF 2024

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Responding to its young visitors’ vibrant enthusiasm and palpable thirst for knowledge, the 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) offered them an unforgettable journey into the past with the “Ibn Majid’s Compass” workshop. The engaging session combined the art of ancient navigation with modern sustainability practices, inviting children to build their own compass using recycled material.

Led by certified trainers Reham Al Haddad and Ismail Al Ahmad, the workshop demonstrated the mechanics of compass-making and imparted vital lessons on environmental conservation. As each participant built their compass, they also delved into the practical applications of directional science.

The engaging activity sparked new curiosity in its young attendees to continue on their exploratory paths.

The hands-on workshop also served as a portal to the rich maritime heritage of the Arab world. Children were captivated by tales of Ahmad Bin Majid, the legendary Arab navigator whose work in maritime exploration laid the groundwork for future work and major discoveries in the field. Through stories of his brave voyages and pioneering innovations, the workshop highlighted the significant contributions of Arabs to maritime science and global navigation.

SMART BRAINS

Enthusiastic schoolchildren got an opportunity to unlock hidden mathematical potential and skills as part of a special Smart Brain Workshop at the 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival that kicked off on Wednesday at the Expo Centre.

  The engaging session drew children to build their own compass using recycled material.

Syrian instructor Lamar Albabili who taught attendees, some as young as five, how to use fingers to count numbers beyond 10, said this was a perfect platform for young learners to fall in love with “not just mathematics but the beauty of numbers”.

“This Smart Brain Workshop aims to make learning maths fun and engaging for children, helping them develop essential skills such as concentration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Through interactive activities, games, and exercises, participants will learn how to perform complex mathematical calculations quickly and accurately, boosting their confidence and self-esteem in the process,” said the 19-year-old student of physiotherapy who will be conducting the daily workshops at the ‘Brain’ section of SCRF 2024 until Monday.

For Mohammed Hamdan, the hour-long session was a wonderful journey of self discovery. “I never realised that we could count so fast and so high using just our hands and fingers,” said the grade 6 student of Sharjah Private School. Meanwhile, his schoolmate Marwa, a grade 3 student, enjoyed the process of memorising numbers. “I learnt how to write down big numbers quickly,” she said.

Sultan, a grade two student at International School of Creative Science  – Muwaileh, said the workshop was fun because he picked up new things along the way. “I am smart and I became smarter now,” he said referring to how he enjoyed using traditional counting devices like abacus.

The Smart Brain Workshop, open to children of all ages and skill levels, will take place every day until Monday at the 15th Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

The festival, themed 'Once Upon a Hero', will feature a diverse array of over 1,500 cultural, creative, and edutainment activities led by 265 esteemed guests representing 25 countries, alongside the participation of 186 publishers from 20 nations.

Most heroes wear capes but even the ones who don’t are also part of the collective consciousness of those attending the 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) that kicked off at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Once upon a hero’ on Wednesday.

For four-year-old Eliana Al Saabi who swears by characters like Ben and Holly, and Elsa of the Frozen series, her true hero, she says, is her dad. “He is my superhero because he can do everything for me I can think of,” says the Syrian who is all set to start school later this year. Ditto for fellow four-year-old German Maria Chahir who’s a fan of Paw Patrol. “My dad,” she quips when asked about her favourite hero.

Meanwhile for her dad Essam, a first-time visitor to the 12-day festival being organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), it was a walk down the memory lane.