Learning science from actual scientists working in their field, such as Janet Babb of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. (Photo courtesy of Waimea Country School)

Special to Hawaii 24/7

Even though they were very young at the time, many of Waimea Country School’s fourth, fifth, and sixth graders still have some recollections of the Oct. 15, 2006 earthquake which hit North Kohala. Most of them have also seen the tsunami damage that was done to Anaehoomalu Bay’s fishpond on March 11, 2011.

These real life experiences make the class’s study of earth sciences very tangible and relevant.

Lately, Laurel Matsuda’s class has been having a blast (literally) learning about volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis from a variety of sources. First, the students gathered traditional information from print and media sources. Then they built their own clay model volcanoes, filled them with baking soda and vinegar, and tried to predict where the “lava” would flow.

During Onizuka Science Day in Hilo in January, they watched UH geology professor Steve Lundblad demonstrate simulated vertical and lateral explosions of a volcano and simulations of the effects of gas levels in magma.

Dave Carvalho from the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes came to the students’ classroom in Waimea to show the kinds of damage earthquakes and tsunamis can do and to give the students some information about personal safety during that kind of event.

To cap off their earth sciences unit, Matsuda’s class took a two day, overnight trip which included touring Lava Tree State Park, Ahalanui Park and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The students visited different areas and learned from videos, exhibits, displays, hikes, exploring and swimming, and talks given by the scientists and rangers.

Matsuda said, “I strive to make my classroom a fun, interesting, and exciting place to learn, but there is no substitute for getting students out into the real world, where they can see, feel, and experience our island’s volcanism and learn from real scientists, like Janet Babb at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.”

Sixth grader, Sofia Peterson said, “I never knew that lava could make a shell around the trees and burn the inside.”

Fifth grader Erica Yost said she was impressed by the hike along Devastation Trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because the volcano burned “everything!”

The eruption “totally destroyed the forest,” added fourth grader Isabella Kilgore.

Stormer Horton remembered learning that when Kilauea Iki erupted, the lava fountain was higher than the Empire State Building.

Most of Matsuda’s class agreed that a highlight of the trip was the evening view of the glow at Halemaumau Crater.

“In the day, the plume looks like steam, but at night you could see the reds and yellows and oranges glowing in the clouds,” Yost said.

“At Waimea Country School, we know that travel study is important for building strong connections between what students learn in the classroom and what they experience in the real world. These hands-on experiences create valuable lessons that are meaningful, and the learning deepens,” Head of School Amy Salling said.

Founded in 1996, Waimea Country School’s mission is “to provide an outstanding K-6 child-centered, multiage and multicultural learning experience which incorporates the core values of inclusion and respect.”

For further information about Waimea Country School, call 885-0067 or visit waimeacountryschool.org

Waimea Country School students learn about the movement of the earth’s plates during a classroom simulation using graham crackers (oceanic plates) and chocolate pudding (magma). (Photo courtesy of Waimea Country School)