25 November, 2024

Students brush up on dentistry and other topics

Project props… Aida Thompson (left) and Evelyn Goddard with their presentation about dental health

Dental health and hidden cancer-linked chemicals were among topics covered by Takapuna Normal Intermediate School students in their recent inquiry projects.
Each year, year 8 students at the school look into an issue of their own choosing, then present their findings at an exhibition day.
The students are required to research their topic, talk to experts, advocate for their issue or participate in positive action in their community, then present their work.
The projects are the culmination of the International Baccalaureate (IB) primary years programme (PYP).
Teacher and PYP coordinator Courtney Dixon said the projects helped enhance students’ critical thinking and communication and time-management skills. They had to work to deadlines as a group and talk to a range of people.
Students Aida Thompson and Evelyn Goddard chose to research dental health, as they felt it was an overlooked factor in New Zealand healthcare.
In speaking to three dental-health professionals, they found 40 per cent of children don’t know how to brush their teeth properly, prompting them to run a class at Takapuna Primary School, teaching dental-health practices.

Nicole Bowen, Chloe Day and Joudy Sorour looked at the impacts of youth drinking.

Aida said they designed the class around the main ways children process information, using a range of verbal and physical methods.
Nicole Bowen, Chloe Day and Joudy Sorour looked into youth drinking. They said it was interesting to find out that the normalisation of alcohol through advertising and sponsorships contributes to youth drinking.
Miriam Cowen and Grace Kennerley researched Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), some of which have been found to be carcinogenic.
Their survey found 88.2 per cent of respondents didn’t know what PFAs were, so they ran a workshop explaining what they were and how the dangers associated with them can be avoided.

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