Investigating Filters

The Educator Guide has a script, materials list, and prep directions. Be sure to have it open and ready to help guide you through every activity. 

• Post EDP Poster. 
• Make 8 filter bases, Educator Guide p. 37. 
• Create Investigation Chart, Educator Guide p. 32. 
• Set up Materials Table: filter materials and scissors. 
• Create charcoal filter and yellow test water, Educator Guide p. 32. 

How do filters help us solve our problem of being able to reuse water?

• Investigate different materials to see how well they remove or reduce different water contaminants. 

• Flint, Michigan gives filters to residents to improve water quality. Lead in pipes dissolves into drinking water and is very harmful to humans. Lead can be removed by filters. 

• Results are subtle: try photos or side-by-side comparisons on a white background. 
• Help youth discover on their own that slowing down the filter improves results. 
• Sand or cotton balls packed tightly into the nozzle slow the filter rate. 
• Help youth interpret test results/decide on fair test procedures like shaking samples. 

Water Filter: a technology that improves water quality by removing particles or contaminants as the water passes through