Year 2 children are learning how engineers design and construct buildings to withstand earthquake damage by building their own model structures using toothpicks, straws, lolly sticks and play dough. They experimented to see how earthquake-proof their buildings are by testing them in an earthquake simulated bowl of jelly. Earthquakes can cause walls to crack, foundations to move and even entire buildings to crumple, engineers incorporate into their structural designs techniques that withstand damage from earthquake forces, for example, cross bracing, large bases and tapered geometry. Earthquake-proof buildings are intended to bend and sway with the motion of earthquakes, or are isolated from the movement by sliders. Engineers come up with an idea, test it, and then re-engineer the structure based on its performance. Class 6 loved testing their structures.
