Legoland Eduplay Express at SK Larkin 2

Have you seen the Legoland Eduplay Express?

The Legoland Eduplay Express bus at SK Larkin 2

Well, I have, but only in photographs.

It’s an educational Lego themed bus that houses selected educational workshops from the Legoland Education Programme which focuses on school subjects like English and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM, in short.

In fact, Legoland Malaysia Resort is the first Legoland in the world to organise the Eduplay Express Programme in schools.

This is because the resort wishes to promote learning through play and aims to bring outdoor learning to schools throughout Peninsular Malaysia.

A section of the interactive workshops
within the Eduplay Express bus

Since it was introduced in 2014, the education campaign through the Eduplay Express bus has received positive feedback from students and teachers in some 300 schools here.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, this education campaign has been revamped in 2019 with an exciting schedule to visit some 500 schools in the nation.

Between March 6 and 21, the Eduplay Express had already visited 23 schools in Johor and engaged with more than 1,000 students through hands-on learning workshops.

So when I learnt that the bus will be at SK Larkin 2 in Johor Baru that April afternoon, I cancelled all other appointments so that I will be there for a firsthand experience of Eduplay Express.

I arrive in the sweltering sun to see the bus parked at the school’s front compound.

In the school hall I meet with familiar faces from the resort, including resort General Manager, Kurt Stocks, and Director of Sales & Marketing, Thila Munusamy.

Visitors [Right] in the Eduplay Express bus

Then I learn that the Eduplay Express visit to the school coincided with a District Level competition among Primary and Lower Primary students in English Storytelling Phase I and II, and Public-Speaking in two categories, an event which happened that morning.

This prize-giving event was graced by (proud!) parents and teachers of the participating students as well as SK Larkin 2 Headmaster, Rodyisnansyah Julaihi and SK Larkin 1 Headmaster, Nazli Nazri Abu Hassan.

Also present at the event were Head Unit of Curriculum, Human Development Sector, Johor Education Department, Tuan Haji Kamaruddin Mohd Tahir, Co-Avademic of Language and Social Science, Human Development Sector, Johor Education Department, Khairul Akmar Abdullah, and District Education Office’s Curriculum Assistants for Johor Baru, Mohd Nor Ismail Mohd Said, for Kota Tinggi, Haji Ishak Ismail and for Muar, Mohd Fauzi Ishak.

Proud parents and teachers trying to capture a photo
memento of prize-giving, presented by Thila Munusamy

In his speech, Stocks said that Eduplay Express is an extension of an integral part of Lego’s DNA and is aligned with the activities available at the resort.

He emphasized that STEM is an important area in the resort’s education programme and believed that the cultivation of interest and learning through play should start at a young age.

“Learning does not only take place within the four walls of a classroom and through this programme, we hope to bring children outside to cultivate their creative thinking through fun, educational activities with our Eduplay Express bus,” said Stocks.

“With the newly refreshed education activities and revamped buses, we are aiming to reach out to 500 schools in Peninsular Malaysia by November 2019,” he added.

The winners of District Level Storytelling and Public-Speaking competition, showing off their Lego SEA LIFE trophies

The Eduplay Express bus has a busy schedule mapped out from now till November to visit schools located in Johor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis and Kedah before Kelantan.

The fun workshop activities available on the Eduplay Express are designed for various age groups like Dr. Heartbeat, Cosmobot, Tall Towers and Funtastic Gears (for age five and above), Get Moving (for ages seven to 11), Amazing Machine (for age eight and above) and Energy Lab (for age nine and above).

These workshops available in the bus can be found within Legoland Malaysia Resort and I heard how Stocks described it as, Sharing with others, a little piece of their resort in a bus.

Lego Brick mascot in a group photo with parents,
teachers and competition winners, against
the Eduplay Express bus as a backdrop 

A brief introduction to SEA LIFE Malaysia was presented in Malay by SEA LIFE Malaysia’s Education Supervisor, Faridah Mohd Saman, as the Eduplay initiative also extends to SEA LIFE Malaysia, Legoland Malaysia Resort’s new marine life attraction.

SEA LIFE Malaysia, which is scheduled to open in May 2019, aims to teach students about marine live and the importance of conserving the delicate underwater ecosystem.

Then winners of the Storytelling and Public-Speaking competition received their prizes in the form of custom-made trophies designed in a SEA LIFE theme, made of Lego bricks and sponsored by Legoland Malaysia Resort.

Some of the participants who stepped up to receive their prizes were dressed in school uniforms while some were in costumes as sea creatures like Mermaids, Squid and Turtles because SEA LIFE was the topic of their competition.

SEA LIFE's Sharky mascot joins Lego Brick mascot in a
group photo with guests and students of SK Larkin 2

I also learnt that earlier in the day, groups of students in SK Larkin 2 took their turns to explore and experience the workshops on board the Eduplay Express bus here.

At the close of the event, students and teachers enjoyed happy photo sessions with mascots, Lego Brick and SEA LIFE’s Sharky.

Of course, I did not miss the opportunity for my own peek into the exciting workshop activities within Eduplay Express.

For more information or to book an Eduplay Express bus appearance at your school, students and teachers may send your email to: Farradyba.Rosli@legoland.my

For schools that are not on the Eduplay Express bus route this year, find packages for school field trips to experience the Legoland Education Programme workshops in the park at https://www.legoland.com.my/book-visit/education/education-package/

For more info on promotions and activities, visit Legoland Malaysia Resort’s official website on www.legoland.com.my and stay connected with the resort via social handles Facebook and Twitter.