CEDAR RAPIDS - Seventh Graders at a Cedar Rapids school are using parts of the flood zone for a real-life look at the effects of erosion and weathering.

McKinley Middle School students toured damaged areas of Czech Village Wednesday.

They also planned to look at the Indian Creek Nature Center to see how floods affect natural areas.

Teachers say a real life experience impressed the students more than facts in a book.

“They’re pretty horrified they hadn’t seen a lot of it, they’re seeing some stuff they’d never seen,” says Teacher Ted Neal.

As part of this science section, students will also study the flood rebuilding process.

And they’ll each have to write a letter to the city council offering suggestions.