Stem Investigations: Design a Water Filter

How is the water that comes out of our faucets made safe for consumption?

• Materials for 15 groups of students

• Teacher's Manual and Student Study Guide copymasters are included

Students will learn about the processes performed at water treatment facilities, and then engineer their own small scale filtration plant. Once they design their filtering system, they will observe and evaluate the quality of the water they produce.

Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: ETS1.A; ETS1.B; ETS1.C
Performance Expectations: 3-5-ETS1-1; 3-5-ETS1-2; 3-5-ETS1-3; MS-ETS1-3; MS-ETS1-4
Cross Cutting Concepts: Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the natural World
Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models

Ordering information: Kit includes: 150 g fine sand, 1500 g gravel, 300 g activated charcoal, 5 ml green food coloring, 25 ml white vinegar, 30 coffee filters, 1 bag cotton balls, and 75 plastic cups.