The truth behind that Malanda meteorite
SCHOOL
Pictures from an apparent Meteorite landing at a Tablelands school this week sent social media into a spin when they went viral.
Students from Malanda State School were surprised when they arrived at school on Monday morning to see a large smouldering, black rock on the school grounds.
The school's very own news team, the Moolanda News Crew were first on the scene and got the big scoop.
Local police attended and quickly cordoned off the area as teachers and parents crowded around in awe.
However, Police have since confirmed, this particular rock did not come from outer place.
It turns out, teachers and students from Malanda State School created a mock meteorite landing on their school grounds, complete with a smoke machine and a long impact trench as part of a school journalism project.
The project gave students the opportunity to creatively write stories about the origin of the rock and provide interviews to awaiting ‘media’.
Journalism students even whipped out their microphones and practised reporting live from the scene.
The student project was so convincing some parents even rang the school to make sure their children were safe.
Local Adopt-A-Cop officers from Malanda regularly involve themselves in community orientated policing and were quick to offer their time for this worthy cause.
Sergeant Shawn Pipia said the officers were happy to be involved in the life-like scene.
“Assisting the children to harvest their imagination and passion for storytelling was great to be a part of,” Sergeant Pipia explained.
“This kind of learning promotes a deep level of fascination and passion for their subject.”