Lower Hutt students learn the science of goo and poo

HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

30 November 2016

Naenae Intermediate School students squeeze mashed-up food through an ‘intestine’ made from pantyhose.

Lower Hutt students learn the science of goo and poo

A group of Naenae Intermediate School students have got in the poo – all in the interest of having fun with science.

Thanks to Hutt City Council-led initiative Hutt Science, the students recently learned through a practical exercise how the human digestive system works. In the session Peanuts 2 Poos the students carried out experiments to find out how much energy is in a peanut and test for chemicals in foods.

Using everyday foods, chemicals, plastic bags and pantyhose, the students transformed the food into ‘poo’. A banana, toast, rolled oats, chocolate chips and coffee was crushed, mixed with chemicals and strained through pantyhose, until it became a thick paste resembling what is normally flushed down the toilet.

While there were plenty of laughs and cries of “yuck” from the students during the session, all of them enjoyed working in teams to replicate the human digestive system.

Hutt Science Director Anne Ryan says the session, part of the Hands-on Hutt Science Project, is a great opportunity for students to get involved and enthused with science. “This is a hands-on project. The kids have to cooperate on practical experiments and tasks and on occasion get their hands dirty. What is heartening is that they get excited about science.

“We want all our kids to have exposure to science and technology opportunities that motivate them to want to continue studying in this area and maybe even take up a career in science or technology.”

The Hands-On Hutt Science Project is aimed at Year 5 to 8 students and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Unlocking Curious Minds fund.

The Hands-On Project this year also offered the session Water, Fire and Ice, where students learned to split water and make hydrogen and oxygen gas, carry out colourful flame tests and explore how to make ice even colder while making ice cream.

The school sessions were run by experienced teachers from Hutt Science, supported by Hutt Science Volunteers and Year 10 Student Science Ambassadors from Lower Hutt schools.

Science and technology career programme Futureintech also helped bring in working scientists from science and technology organisations and businesses to the sessions for a 10-minute demonstration or talk.

Hutt Science also has after school classes and these will continue until 9 December.

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