Now that fifth graders have identified sources of pollution and whether they are natural or artificial, they are beginning to use the engineering design process. Our first step in the engineering design process is to ask questions. Fifth graders are asking questions about which materials they could possibly use to clean one of three types of contaminated water.
Will the material trap large debris like twigs or floating fertilizer? Will the material absorb materials that are too small to be seen with the naked eye? How can we tell if the material has done it
The water they'll be cleaning has either been contaminated with cornstarch, soil, or tea. By looking at various materials and their properties, they will actually test specific materials and determine which materials will best meet the goal of cleaning water.
Will the material trap large debris like twigs or floating fertilizer? Will the material absorb materials that are too small to be seen with the naked eye? How can we tell if the material has done it
The water they'll be cleaning has either been contaminated with cornstarch, soil, or tea. By looking at various materials and their properties, they will actually test specific materials and determine which materials will best meet the goal of cleaning water.