Water Systems Hands-On Task - Creating Water Filters
Design Task - Creating a Water Filter to Remove Impurities from a Non-Potable
Freshwater Sample
In groups,
you will research about, design, and then build, two simple water filtration
devices, using only materials that can be found in the wilderness. One filter
will have three filtration layers and the other one, five layers. You will filter a
total of two 500mL samples per device. Your goal is to create the cleanest possible
water sample. Successfully filtered water will be judged by having a reasonable
odour (smell), have minimal discolouration (“brownish or yellowish-ness”) and
look nearly transparent (see-though, with as few floating clumps or particles
as possible).
Research Before Starting:
Articles:
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOxZrCAPhok
Class #1 – Research
and Planning
-Read over all suggested articles and watch the suggested
videos with your group
-While reading/watching, take notes on anything you feel will be helpful when planing your filter (i.e. - what is filtered by each layer of materials) and make a list of all
materials you may want to use in your filter
-Try to make notes on what is filtered by each layer of
materials
-Decide upon the size and shape of your filtration device –
what container will your group use to hold all filtration layers in?
-What will your water collection device be made of? Size?
-If possible, your group should try to bring in materials
needed – discuss which group member can bring in each material
-Put a star (*) beside anything you need Mr. Mak to get for
you.
-If you are planning to have an ash/carbon filtration layer,
Mr. Mak will provide this. Please DO NOT bring this in to school
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) Notes from ALL videos and articles
3) List of materials used for you filter (all layers, plus the containers you will need for the filter and capturing device)
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) Notes from ALL videos and articles
3) List of materials used for you filter (all layers, plus the containers you will need for the filter and capturing device)
Class #2 –
Labelled Filter Drawings with Explanation of Filter Layers:
-Make a NEAT, labelled sketch to illustrate how your final filters will
look
-For each layer, include notes about what it
is expected to remove/filter out
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) TWO Neatly labelled diagram of your filters. One for your three layer and one for your five layer.
3) Brief explanation of why each layer was chosen. What do you expect each layer filter out?
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) TWO Neatly labelled diagram of your filters. One for your three layer and one for your five layer.
3) Brief explanation of why each layer was chosen. What do you expect each layer filter out?
Class #3 -
Building the Filter/ Testing the Filter – Collecting Observations:
-Build it!
-Test it!!
-Make qualitative observations about your filtered water
samples (colour, smell, clarity)
-Make quantitative observations (time the filtration process
for each sample) – include these as a chart
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) Completed construction of both filters.
3) How effective each of your filters are, based on clarity (are there clumps floating), colour (clear vs. yellowish/brownish) and odour
4) Qualitative Observations (What does the filtered water look like and smell like?)
5) Quantitative Observations (How long it takes to filter each sample? )
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) Completed construction of both filters.
3) How effective each of your filters are, based on clarity (are there clumps floating), colour (clear vs. yellowish/brownish) and odour
4) Qualitative Observations (What does the filtered water look like and smell like?)
5) Quantitative Observations (How long it takes to filter each sample? )
Class #4 – Analysis
of Observations & Follow-Up Questions
1) Analysis of Observations: Describe the differences you noticed between
water filtered through your three-layer and five-layer sample. Which was better
at cleaning up the dirty water? How much of a time difference was there, in terms of
filtration speed? Were there any other interesting observations made by your
group?
2)
If you were in the wilderness, explain another
step you have learned about in your research that could be added to your
filtration process that could better ensure that carriers of water-borne illness (i.e. - bacteria, viruses,
parasites) are (mostly) eliminated from your filtered product.
3)
After seeing all other group experiments, would
you change you filter designs? Explain. If yes, what would be include in a three-layer and
five-layer filter? Explain why.
4)
If you could add layers using any materials (not
just ones found in the wilderness) that you encountered in you research, what
would you change in your design? Briefly explain the purpose of each layer.
Assessment:
1) Use of class time. Completion of task on time.
2) Quality of answers (i.e. - all parts of the questions are completed, answers are in-depth and show evidence of research about and understanding of the filtration process)
3) Proofreading to minimize spelling and grammatical errors.
Creating a Water Filter Assignment
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
| |
Use of class time / Completion of activity by the due date
|
Needs Improvement
|
Satisfactory
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Notes on all three articles and three video resources provided. Focus on what can be used for different layers of the filter and what each material removes from dirty water.
|
Needs Improvement
|
Satisfactory
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Diagram of 3-layer and 5-layer filters with labels and explanation of what each layer removes from the dirty water
|
Needs Improvement
|
Satisfactory
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Experimental Observations and Analysis Questions
|
Needs Improvement
|
Satisfactory
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Effectiveness of both filters created
-Three Layer
-Five Layer
|
Needs Improvement
|
Satisfactory
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Overall Grade:
