RMS class learns from hurricane simulation
By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason FCT Staff Writer
A sixth grade science class at Russellville Middle School simulated a hurricane as a class project to help them learn how hurricanes develop and grow.
Lee Brownell's Earth Science class has been learning about hurricanes as they close their weather section. The students studied how houses are built to withstand the winds of storms, including hurricanes.
The students were given a budget of points to use when constructing their houses, which were made of colorful paper, straws and scotch tape to hold them together. The goal for each team of two was to build a house that would stand up to simulated category 5 winds, Brownell said.
Once the houses were constructed, they were tested. Using a leaf blower, Brownell simulated hurricane force winds, beginning with tropical storm escalating in strength until reaching category 5. Each house was tested to see if their designs were effective. During one class, most of the houses were destroyed in the simulated category 4 phase, but one house stood through the simulated category 5 stage. Only one did not make it through the tropical storm phase.
Once the simulation was over, the students were instructed to go back into the classroom and write an essay why their house did not withstand the simulated category 5 winds. However, in the one case where they house did withstand the storm, the student was instructed to write an essay on why his house did withstand the storm.
Each student was graded on the research put into the houses, safety and the design of the house. They did get points on how well their house stood up to the winds, but the simulation was the fun part for the students, Brownell said.
"I love to do hands-on stuff with the kids," Brownell said. "They get more out of it than just facts."
This is the second year that Brownell used the hurricane simulations as a class project and both years, the students responded well to the project.
"Last year, they really got into it because of all the hurricanes we had last year. We haven't had that many storms this year, but the kids really enjoyed the project." Brownell said.
Brownell has two sixth grade science classes with about 25 students each. Both sixth grade classes conducted the hurricane simulation project. He also teaches seventh and eighth grade science classes at RMS.
Brownell holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, a master's degree from LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA, and an education specialist certification from Columbus State. This is his eighth year at RMS. Prior to working here, he spent eight years teaching at a school in Georgia.
