Thursday 24 April 2014

The Montecasino Bird Gardens is turning 13!

Montecasino Bird Gardens
The Montecasino Bird Gardens celebrates its 13th birthday on Sunday 27 April and you’re invited! Come along and enjoy all the fun, laughs and good times while learning about your favourite feathery and furry friends.

On this special day, the Montecasino Bird Gardens is the only place to be for a day of family fun. Between 10:00 and 16:00 there will be lots to see and do – from face painters, stilt walkers, mime artists and jumping castles to the magical ‘Flight of Fantasy’ bird show and visits from resident mascot, Tango the Toucan.

Entry costs only R38 for adults and children over the age of 10 years, and R28 for pensioners and children under the age of 10 years. Children under the age of three (3) years of age enter free. These special prices are also valid for Monday 28 April, giving you even more reasons to visit the Montecasino Bird Gardens.

For more information visit www.montecasino.co.za or call the Montecasino Bird Gardens on 011 511 1864.

Montecasino Bird Gardens
Montecasino – We’ve Got It!



Press release issued by Strategic Public Relations 

Thursday 17 April 2014

Supernova, vol. 3.4

Supernova, the mag for curious kids
Supernova doesn't just ask and answer interesting questions. It helps kids to see the world in a different way. The more we know about the world, the more we appreciate all the great, beautiful things that surround us. We also begin to take better care of ourselves and others.

Supernova vol. 3.4 is no exception. In this issue, we learn to appreciate our dogs and the special bond we have with them. We also learn to explore our gardens and discover the wonderful life within them. We also get to see how we as a nation are by connected by the people who build it. We're even trying to get kids to like their veggies!

We open the hearts and minds of children all over South Africa to the wonderful world around us and inspire them to learn more. Get your kids a copy of Supernova today and let's appreciate the world and all the wonderful things in it together, one page at a time. Visit www.supernovamagazine.co.za now!

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Supernova is the coolest kids’ magazine in the country! Its educational and exciting content makes it not only a necessity in the classroom, but also on every child’s bookshelf. I believe this magazine is vital in an educational milieu like South Africa’s, where the curriculum often comes up short in providing learners with a holistic worldview. It’s a must-have for inquisitive minds!”

Albrecht Geyer
Corporate Publisher at 5DT

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Tuesday 8 April 2014

Rise of edutainment apps in SA

Teaching kids to be creative with technology 

Monster Moogle

The adoption of technology for entertainment, learning and developmental assessment amongst children is expected to increase in South Africa significantly as a result of the rise of smart device usage in the country.

This is according to local artist and entrepreneur Danielle Orkin, who says that using a tablet or similar device to develop a child’s skill set has become a highly effective method of education globally, and can result in improved hand-eye coordination, increased cognitive skills and creativity. 

She says that using an iPad can also improve a child’s technological intelligence, which is becoming a fundamental pillar of learning for children and a requirement equivalent to reading and writing.

According to a report by research firm VisionMobile, the global app economy was worth $68 billion last year and is projected to grow to $143 billion in 2016. World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck said recently that the app has become the single most significant tool driving the mobile economy in South Africa. Orkin says that it is clear that children of today are living in a rapidly developing digital era and the increase of smart device usage for education and entertainment purposes is, therefore, a natural progression. “As a result, children’s edutainment apps are being built on sound learning principles to offer 21st century tech skills and learning opportunities.”

Orkin is the developer of South Africa’s first of its kind locally-developed edutainment app for children, Monster Moogle, which was recently launched by Colormeclever Digital Kids, a partnership formed between Orkin and tech start up accelerators Fontera Skunk Works (a division of Fontera Digital Works) and SeedEngine. Monster Moogle forms part of the popular edutainment app category, and can be made use of by children between the ages of four and 12. The Monster Moogle interactive storybook brings the story to life through art, rich content, sound, interactivity and colourful animation.

Monster Moogle
She says that the app aims to add to the traditional educational and entertaining aspects of storytelling by adding a deep level of interactivity for the reader, and will not only stimulate a child’s creative instincts and develop artistic creative design skills, but also assist with early stage development.

The interactive component of the app is based on the same thinking and logic as design programs such as Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator and will help children develop an early understanding of how digital design programs work.

Art and design in its digital form is a fun and enticing way to introduce various skill sets to children and help them to develop a tech-savvy way of thinking. My experience as an artist and art lecturer has taught me that art and design can help children in many ways, including how to think creatively, to acquire the skills to observe, assess and to understand, to express feelings without relaying them verbally, problem solving and critical thinking skills.”

The Monster Moogle Collage Maker app, which accompanies the Monster Moogle storybook, allows children to create their own characters and to write their own short stories using elements from the book. “The reason why I chose monsters as a topic is because I want children to let go of any preconceived ideas of how things should look and be.”

On completion of creating the collage, the user may save it to their in-app gallery where they then read their own stories with their own illustrations.

The Monster Moogle storybook and Collage Maker concept stems from a creative collage teaching method which Orkin developed when lecturing Fine Arts at a tertiary institution, which aims to develop creative problem solving techniques among business students. She says that the collage method helped many of the students overcome their perceived lack of creativity.

Monster Moogle was recently introduced into local classrooms in South Africa and in response to a Monster Moogle workshop, grade one teacher, Donna Dribbin says, “As a classroom teacher, I thoroughly loved the Colormeclever workshop and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to witness my students broaden and deepen their creativity in such a fun, child friendly way. I loved how my students were able to come up with their very own monster idea and had the opportunity to take ownership of their monsters by naming and creating them.”

The full Monster Moogle pack includes the storybook, an interactive story, meet the characters and the Monster Moogle Collage Maker. The app is on sale now on iTunes for iOS 7 and can be downloaded on iPad 2 upwards. It is also available on Amazon in non-interactive book format, which was developed for the Kindle.


*Look out for a review of Monster Moogle in Supernova vol. 3.5!


Press release by Epic Communications (Pty) Ltd.



Thursday 3 April 2014

Factomania premieres tonight!

Factomania, ©BBC
The Supernova team is super excited about tonights premiere of Factomania! If you love Supernova's 'Life, the Universe and Everything' articles, you're going to love Factomania too!

On Factomania, the world’s most incredible facts compete as explosive experiments, amazing animated tales and strange stunts. In every show, hosts Dominic Byrne (Mr Curious), Fran Scott (Bold Experimentalist) and Greg Foot (Daredevil Scientist) get three chances to win. They can award each other’s stories up to one hundred points for packing in maximum facts and maximum fun.

Greg sets out to find the most explosive ingredient in his kitchen; Dom is inspired to make an animated ‘Guide to making it as a Gladiator’ following the statistic that only ‘one in ten gladiators survived’… and armed with the knowledge that tea tastes terrible on an aeroplane, Fran devises a demo to prove you can boil water when it’s cold.

Greg, Dominic and Fran in Factomania©BBC
Factomania will reveal why two thousand strains of bacteria live in your belly button, how beer is the bedrock of civilization, and which domestic appliance could lift up a car.

Factomania premieres tonight, Thursday 3 April, at 22:00 on BBC Knowledge channel 184 DStv. 

It’s time to… get your facts straight.

Fran and Greg play with fire in Factomania©BBC.

Keep your eyes open for our exclusive interview with Greg Foot, coming soon!


Information courtesy of Total Exposure.
Images: ©BBC


Tuesday 1 April 2014

World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition

Paws to save the date for the World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition


Animal lovers, it’s time to save the date for your favourite annual event. The World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition (WODAC PET EXPO) will take place from 18 to 20 July at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

Come and discover the possibilities, opportunities and rewards of pet ownership as you browse the Hall of Dogs, Hall of Cats and Hall of Reptiles, and fall under the spell of the Magic of Horses. Also on show are exotic pets, budgies and parrots, fish, koi, rabbits, pedigree rats and new breeds of imported guinea pigs.

WODAC has something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or considering pet adoption for the first time. Shop for products and services to care for, pamper and provide for your pet. You’ll find everything from treats, toys and accessories to nutrition, health and wellness solutions on show.

As usual, there’s something to delight every member of your human family, young or old, at WODAC. Plan your breaks from shopping and chatting with breeders and exhibitors, to coincide with some of the many exciting events taking place in the two arenas and equine ring. Watch the Dancing with Dogs SA Championships, Canine Survivor, Dog Fashion Show, Dogs of the World Parade, Top 32 SA Bred Dogs and the Top 64 SA Bred Cats, Equine Displays, Shelter Dog Parade, Dog Agility Grand Prix, Flyball, Dog Jumping, the National Cat Show Finals, prestigious Golden Collar and Silver Lead dog show awards, and other fabulous events. Four top International Judges will participate. The popular demonstration pavilion offers talks and demos on various products, and breeds of dogs and cats, as well as fish, birds, reptiles and pet rats.


Responsible pet ownership is a serious and seriously rewarding commitment. Learn how to do the best you can for your family and your pets by attending informative, interactive workshops and take advantage of the brand new opportunity to speak with and have your questions answered by the 'Vet on Call' at WODAC.

Visit the website www.dogscats.co.za to plan your visit to the year’s most heart-warming expo and get useful information, tips and entertainment by following WODAC on Facebook.

Regrettably no pets allowed other than those participating or competing at WODAC.



Issued by ITP Communications (Pty) Ltd on behalf of the World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Expo.