[HOMESCHOOL] Learning About Decomposers & Detritivores At Rimba Ilmu In UM

We’re new to homeschooling and I have no idea what I’m doing. But we joined this amazing group of homeschoolers/unschoolers/world schoolers at Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens in UM.

It was a four session course on decomposers and detritivores, and honestly the most awesome learning experience ever.

We did this once a week for a month but you’ll think it all happened in the same day because Ayub wears the exact same shirt. Why? Because it was in the guidelines that we should wear long sleeves in the botanical gardens.

So I gave Ayub one of my long sleeved t-shirts. After which he insisted on wearing it to every session, despite half of them being in an air-conditioned science lab. #autismfamilieswillunderstand 😉

Decomposers & Detritivores

Explore the often unseen world of the animals, plants and fungi that break apart and recycle the nutrients in the ecosystem. While doing this, learn practical scientific skills such as trapping, identification and building terraria.

^ That’s what that’s all about. And here’s what Ayub explored (oh hey TIL there’s no down arrow on a keyboard. Maybe there is but I’m too lazy to find it. And I can’t even be bothered to Google it. Shut up Laila.)

Session 1. Scoping: rotting wood

Have a look at the millipedes, woodlice, snails, beetles and bees that make rotting wood their home. Examine these animals up close in rotting-wood terraria.

We trekked through the tropical botanical garden of Rimba Ilmu in UM to seek decomposers. Basically bugs that live in places that are decomposing.

Each kiddo was given a magnifying glass for closer observation of all the creepies and crawlies.

Ayub was SO excited. You know how he is. He loves insects and being outdoors and being in nature and science in general.

It’s in these extra happy moments that his autism shines loud and clear

Oh boy, he was so loud and talking non-stop and right in the front and butting in and making all kinds of inappropriate comments. I love him so much. I want him to be himself. I love that being neurodivergent means standing out and being different and being completely comfortable with that.

But at the same time, it’s hard when he’s obviously disrupting and disturbing others. You know what I mean?

The other kids were so awesome. Just as eager and excited to observe and learn. But Ayub is like… making it difficult for them. I’m torn. I don’t know. I just want everyone to be happy just the way they are.

Anyway. The kids observed termites and ants and woodlice and other cool things like that. The mums just kinda hung back and let them do their thing.

I was making mental notes about how we need to work more on Ayub’s social thinking and inference. To help him connect with the world around him.

Did I make the right choice about pulling him out of school? Now he has little to no social time with other kids his age. AAAAAHHHHHHH what am I doing I don’t know. Sorry.

But the coolest thing for me was when our guide broke through the top layer of a termite nest so we could see the structure below. ARE YOU READY????

Isn’t that INCREDIBLE! Termites built that! Termites built THAT! I was blown away y’all. Haha.

And that’s just the surface. The nest goes deep underground, with different roadways and structures and I’m just in awe. Anyway, don’t worry about the giant hole that was made.

The guide (I dunno what to refer to him as but I don’t think I should be putting his name here but I guess I could but I’d have to ask his permission and I dunno) said that the termites would fix the hole by the next day because they’re ridiculous like that.

Sorting through a box of dirt

I’m sure there’s a proper scientific term to explain what the kids were doing. But basically they were sorting through decomposing wood to find bugs, then making notes on what their findings.

It was so hard for Ayub to focus but I think he tried and that matters. None of the kids wanted him in their group though, which was hard to watch. But I let him handle it on his own and eventually he found a way.

At the end of the session he got to bring back some bugs and decomposing matter, much to his delight

Session 2. Sampling: soil and leaf litter

Start digging for the animals that live on and under the soil. Learn how to make pitfall traps for ground dwelling insects. Learn to use a Tullgren funnel.

I had to attend a meeting at work so I couldn’t follow for this session. Luckily, the other mums are amazing and said they would look out for Ayub.

They sent me lots of pictures of him.

Ayub, who’s not into retelling experiences, later explained with great enthusiasm how they built pitfall traps to catch insects.

Session 3. Sorting and examination

Extract animal specimens from the Tullgren funnel. View your findings up-close, under the microscope. Sort and classify your soil and leaf litter catch.

The next two sessions were held in the lab. Ayub was not as excited to have to sort and classify his findings. And basically struggled the whole way through because, bless him, sitting down and writing in an organised manner is just not his strength right now.

Waiting for class to start, Ayub found the skin of a dragonfly nymph

Isn’t it beautiful?!

And one of the girls made me a bracelet!

I have no idea what was going on in the lab

Sorting through the insects that were captured in their pitfall traps

Ayub struggled and fought back tears. He really tried. But he found it all very difficult and confusing.

I love you Ayub, you can do this thing!

Session 4. Synthesis

Describe a habitat based on the animals that you found, and create a community map.

Final session. Quite a bit of writing. Not much, but for Ayub it was too much. He really struggled to focus. But in the end, with a lot of 1-on-1 attention from the guide, he managed to bust this out:

And that brought us to the end of the course <3

The whole course cost around RM350 (I can’t remember exactly) and it was worth every sen. Ayub generally loved it, although he got upset a few times at things that were out of his control. But it’s ok. Hopefully we’ll still be invited back.

Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens

Opening times: 9am-12pm, 2pm-4pm (Monday-Friday) | Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays
Location: University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
Admission is free