STEM at Yiramalay

We are coming to the end of a fabulous term and appreciating the wisdom of Aboriginal culture and their input into mining practices. As part of our SYPP program this term, we studied rocks in Bunuba country. In Bunuba culture, rocks and stones are sentient beings with spirits, that in most cases, want to stay just where they are.

At the beginning of this journey, we had a great start in our excursions into the nearby rock formations in the Kimberley. There were opportunities to head out for on-country activities and let our imaginations loose.

What was it like to be here, under the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago, with the 10-metre armoured meat-eating fish called Placoderm and marine life of sponges and plants all around? What was it like to look at the volcanic eruption millions of years ago and watch the molten lava cool down into lifeless black rock? To calmly witness the sandy sediments turn into hard zebra rocks. Old lime and sandstones uncovered shadows of past marine life, and in the quartz stones, students conceived ideas of the temperatures that forged their crystalline beauty.

At the end of our journey, we collected stones and rocks, dense time capsules that froze the earth’s past activities from a long time ago. Back at school, Noelle and Devan continued their newfound passion for rock hunting!

Ariel Araos, Teacher