Room 15 has been taking part in the New Zealand International Science Festival and Department of Conservation interactive online project called Meet-a-metre. The aim of the project is to promote good science and give young scientists an opportunity to connect with Department of Conservation scientists. Room 15 was divided into 5 scientific teams, each one named after a well known scientist. Each team measured out a one metre square quadrat up in Nature's way behind school. Each quadrat was then divided into 16 sections. Each team then excavated a quadrat and carefully examined the soil. We recorded what was found in each section of each quadrat under the categories flora, fauna and fungi. We brought interesting finds like trapdoor spiders and millipedes back to the classroom so that we could look at them under the dinoscope. The Wright Brothers team used the Landcare research website to identify the peripatus. We wondered why we didn't find more insects, worms and fungi. Mr Carter, our caretaker, borrowed a core-sampler so that we could drill deep into the soil in our quadrats. That's the tool you can see us using in one of the photos. Each group then discussed what they could do to make their quadrat a healthier environment for nature. We used our ideas to prepare our enhancement plans which you can look at on the Meet-a.metre website. Now we are waiting to hear back from the DOC scientists what they suggest. Have a look under Enhancement plans on http://www.scifest.org.nz/meet_a_metre/.
