Pupils make the earth move with science week projects

Science week at a South Hedland primary school took on rather epic proportions this year.

Four Cassia Primary School students rose to the challenge of representing natural disasters by creating a tsunami stimulator and an erupting volcano.

Science specialist Erin Smith said this term senior students had been studying sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions that affected the Earth’s surface.

She said students had investigated earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis while also considering the impact of drought.

“We have been investigating and describing how people measure significant geological events and exploring ways that scientific understanding can assist in natural disaster management to minimise both long and short-term effects, ” she said.

“Some of our students created interactive learning tools to show how geological changes affect the Earth’s surface.”

Head girl Keli Hill and her partner Joey Hollandrose created a tsunami stimulator with the help of Keli’s dad and sister.

Watch the video here

Fashioned from perplex, the stimulator shows the impact of a giant wave on a mini village.

“I am very happy with it, ” she said.

Meanwhile, Izabelle Gibson and Amity Debenham fashioned a volcano from plasticine, and used a combination of bicarbonate soda and vinegar to show an eruption. Ms Smith said she was incredibly proud of her students for their enthusiasm.

She was particularly impressed by the video Keli and Joey made to illustrate how their simulator worked.