Our Year 6 students showcased incredible ingenuity during our second annual Earthquake Day, a highlight of their Natural Disasters project. This year, the challenge evolved into a high-stakes House competition where students were tasked with designing structures that weren’t just tall, but resilient.

The brief was rigorous: each structure had to stand at least 20 cm high and support a 100g mass suspended off the base. To mirror real-world engineering, students also had to manage a strict project budget. They faced tough decisions on whether to invest their limited funds in extra plasticine for joints, more spaghetti for bracing, or advanced wooden dowels to create rolling foundations; a technique they researched to help buildings ‘absorb’ the tremors.

Working in trios, teams refined their designs through trial and error before facing the ultimate test: the school’s Shake Table. While the Blue Sharks ultimately claimed the house victory, we are proud to crown Jonathan, Jackson, and Mariia as our overall individual champions.

Insights from our Young Engineers:

“Earthquake day was so fun! Making the structure was very difficult but I accomplished 1st place with my team. I loved building the structure with the spaghetti.” Mariia

“It was a great competition between the colour houses; we learned a lot about earthquakes and the structure of buildings!”  Lione

The day was a masterclass in problem-solving and resilience, teaching our students that engineering isn’t just about building; it’s about calculating, budgeting, and adapting to overcome real-world challenges.