Colleen Dawson
reviews Discover the Magic series (Jacana Education)
Discover the Magic Garden Route (R115, R92 for schools)
Discover the Magic Cape Town (R115, R92 for schools)
Discover the Magic Gauteng (R115, R92 for schools)
Discover the Magic KwaZulu-Natal (R160, R128 for schools)
Discover the Magic Pilanesberg (R90, R72 for schools)
Discover the Magic is a series of environmental guides to different areas of South Africa. They are designed to enhance the outdoor experience for local and foreign tourists, teachers and learners. These excellent reference books cover a wide range of information, from the detailed geology and climate to human and natural history, identification guides for many local animals and plants,
and human history and impact
in the area.
Each title captures the flavour of the area on which it focuses. They begin with good road maps, showing points of interest clearly. There is a section geared to tourists which lists places to visit and things to do, most with contact telephone numbers and map references.
The next section in the books covers the geology and climate of the area, written in a way that is accessible to any interested visitor. You do not have to be a geologist to benefit from the explanation of the formation of different land forms. This section is especially helpful to natural sciences (NS) teachers who have to cover aspects of geology and development of land forms in the curriculum. The colour photographs and diagrams would be wonderful to show learners.
For example, Discover the Magic Pilanesberg has a series of excellent colour diagrams on how a volcano erupts and what its effect is on the land around it. Any visitor to Pilanesberg National Park will be able to imagine the volcano erupting and leaving behind the landform that can be seen in the park.
Cape Town, which includes the Cape Peninsula National Park and the Winelands, has a well-illustrated section on prevailing winds and how the ‘tablecloth” on Table Mountain is formed. The development of soils in the Cape is related to the unique fynbos vegetation.
Archaeological evidence for human civilisations specific to the region is described. Human and social sciences (HSS) and NS teachers who have to cover the fossil history of South Africa and the origins of humans will find these sections a valuable reference. Diagrams, photographs and timelines provide accessible and useful reference material for teachers.
Human impact on the environment is discussed, and is an important feature of the NS and HSS curricula as teaching and learning are made more relevant to learners. Different areas of the country have experienced human impact in different ways. In KwaZulu-Natal, degradation of estuaries through recreational activities on the beaches and sugar cane farming is an
environmental issue. Along the Garden Route the effects of alien vegetation and of fires, are issues which teachers and learners can address. The brief descriptions in each book will alert teachers to the environmental issues specific to each area.
All the books illustrate and describe common plants and all types of animals. Scientific and common names are given for the plants and animals, with brief descriptions of where and how they live. Gauteng residents can even discover the scientific name for Parktown Prawns!
Contact Amanda Thoane to order at (011) 648-1157 or [email protected]