Students Tackle Erosion and Flooding through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 

An early spring often means rushing water, overflowing creeks, and waterlogged parks. With climate change, the issue of flooding is widely predicted to become more severe and frequent. Students in the Thames Valley District School Board are aware of this problem and are busily brainstorming solutions.  

This spring, Fanshawe Community Education staff visited 15 Grade 5 classes and eight Grade 3 classes in London and Woodstock to raise awareness of flooding and discuss ways to slow the flow of water using the lens of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  

Students got their hands dirty as they conducted soil drainage tests in the classroom and made observations with an interactive floodplain model. While students learned that dams and dykes are powerful tools during floods, they also had the chance to discover Low-Impact Development (LID) solutions including rain gardens, permeable pavement, wetlands, and bioswales. 

The Grade 5 program culminated with students using kinetic sand and miniature props to model different flood control features in diverse settings like school yards and neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, the Grade 3 program and its furry mascot, Muddy the Mink, used ground cover experiments to highlight plants as the best solution to both erosion and flooding.  

Thanks to the Thames Valley District School Board for funding this exciting program and to all the students for their ingenuity and enthusiasm!