Go with the flow: can you outrun a volcano?

Natural Disasters student workshop (New South Wales)

Information for teachers about the hands-on Natural Disasters program for Years 5 - 6, including booking details.

• 25 September 2008 | Updated 21 December 2012

Details

This new hands on class examines the causes of natural disasters as well as their effects on people and societies. Sometimes there is even a positive side to a natural disaster. Children will be encouraged, not only to find out about the mechanisms but also to make predictions and investigate some of the difficulties in being fully prepared for a natural disaster.

The following topics will be covered by demonstrations or hands on activities:

• All together now: piece together the earth’s crust. Where are volcanoes and earthquakes most likely to occur?
• All washed up: determine whether or not it is possible to predict a tsunami in time to warn cities at risk.
• Go with the flow: can you outrun a volcano? Find out about runny and viscous lava and decide whether or not you can escape an eruption.
• I feel the earth move: not all earthquakes are the same. There are different types of waves that cause them. Find out how each one is formed.
• I’m pickin’ up good vibrations: earthquakes are measured using a seismometer. Make your own earthquake and see how it looks on our seismometer.
• It’s raining rocks: scientists can determine how dangerous a volcano is by looking at rock samples from its previous eruptions. Look at and compare the rocks from different volcanoes to find which ones came from a dangerous volcano.
• Shake, rattle and roll: examine the rock samples and calculate their density. Use this information to extrapolate the type of eruption they came from.
• Slip slidin’ away: experiment with factors that affect landslides.
• Storm warning: the likelihood of a cyclone occurring is affected by sea temperature. Change the sea temperature of a computer animation and watch how it affects a cyclone.
• Structure of the earth: the earth is made up of four layers. Find out what each of them are called and what they are made of.
• The wind beneath my roof: how can you build a house to make it more wind resistant? Test the strength of different types of roofs and how they will stand up to a cyclone.

Description

This program is appropriate for Year 5 - 6.

Maximum of 30 students per session.

Session run time is 90 minutes.

A$9.00 per student, A$225 class minimum.

A minimum daily cost of A$450 applies for in-school visits, but not at the North Ryde centre.

We require a room with:

• 12 tables arranged around the edges of the room
• a sink with running water close by (in the room is preferable)
• access to power points
• space for 30 students to sit comfortably on the floor
• chairs are not required.   

Please allow for a set up time of 40 minutes and a pack up of 40 minutes.

Bookings

Book this session by contacting CSIRO Education in NSW:

Phone: 61 2 9490 8677
Fax: 61 2 9490 8648
education.nsw@csiro.au

Find out about other programs run by CSIRO Education, New South Wales.