My name is Elena Vladescu, I am Scientix Ambassador for Romania and on 14.04.2019, I organized the activity “Let’s build a house not shaken by an earthquake!”.

This was a practical activity for 17 years old students for constructing a mock-up of an earthquake resistant building. I used Scientix resources in order to make a more interesting and attractive activity for my pupils to practice what they learn. The main Scientix resouce used was Constructing Earthquake-Proof Buildings – Student Worksheet For Upper Secondary Education available here:

http://www.scientix.eu/resources/details?resourceId=11441

I used also Crossword Puzzle On Seismology – Student Worksheet For Upper Secondary Education from here

http://www.scientix.eu/resources/details?resourceId=11439

and ERIS Educational Package “Physics Of Earthquakes – Extended” from here http://www.scientix.eu/resources/details?resourceId=21445.

With common materials (polystyrene, cardboard, wooden sticks, scissors, stapler, adhesive tape, ruler, pencils), students made a seismic mini-simulator and some models of buildings subject to earthquakes. My students had the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills, creativity, interpersonal and teamworking skills, verbal and written communication skills – essential for a career in engineering. Until now, the chapter about seismic waves was a little too theoretical for my pupils, but, with this practical activity they confessed that they enjoyed learning about earthquakes!

Here you can see pictures from this exercise: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZyI4VBL_vnBM-xPFLGksjGwlxHxADL2r?usp=sharing

Elena Vladescu, Scientix Ambassador for Romania, Liceul Teoretic “Nicolae Titulescu”, Slatina, Romania