Water Pollution Activity Name: 5 th Grade PSI Experiment Questions: What factors impact water quality? Where does water pollution come from? Purpose In this activity, you will explore the impact of water pollution and observe how water is filtered in nature. You will investigate the different sources of water pollution and examine the challenges of protecting Earth s water supply. You will be investigating 4 unknown types of water pollution and their possible sources. You will also be attempting to filter out the pollutants. Materials 5 pint-sized jars with lids Large jar or beaker plastic cup Masking tape Funnel Soil Cotton balls 1 cup measuring cup 1/4 cup measuring cup Vinegar Vegetable oil Blue food coloring Wood chips or grass Baking Soda Procedure: 1. Label four of the mason jars Sample 1, Sample 2, Sample 3 and Sample 4. The 5th jar will be used to collect the water samples after filtering. Label it Filtered Sample. 2. Label the large beaker Downstream Sample. At the end of the experiment all the filtered samples will be combined in the Downstream Sample to demonstrate the cumulative effect of water pollution. 3. Add 1 cup of water to each of the sample jars.
Sample 1 Vinegar - Chemical pollution 1. Measure out 1/4 cup of vinegar and add it to the Sample 1 jar. Secure the lid and shake until thoroughly mixed. Record your observations on the Water Pollution Worksheet. Make a prediction based upon your observations and record it on the worksheet. 2. Place a cotton ball in the neck of the funnel to prevent the soil from falling through. 3. Set the funnel in the Filtered Sample jar. 4. Agitate the sample until it is evenly mixed together. Slowly pour the sample into the funnel. 5. After filtering is complete, record the effectiveness of filtering and your 6. Pour the filtered sample in the Downstream Sample jar. Sample 2 Homemade Motor Oil Industrial pollution 1. Measure out 1/4 cup of the homemade motor oil and add to the Sample 2 jar. Secure the lid and shake until thoroughly mixed. Record your observations on the worksheet. Make a prediction based upon your observations and record it on the worksheet. 3. After filtering is complete, record the effectiveness of filtering and your Sample 3 Wood chips - Agricultural pollution 1. Measure out 1/4 cup of wood chips (or grass) and add to the Sample 3 jar. Secure the lid and shake until thoroughly mixed. Record your observations on the worksheet. Make a prediction based upon your observations and record it on the worksheet. 3. After filtering is complete, record the effectiveness of filtering and their
Sample 4 Baking Soda Household Pollution from cleaning products 1. Measure out 1/4 cup of baking soda and add to the Sample 4 jar. Secure the lid and shake until thoroughly mixed. Record your Make a prediction based upon your observations and record it on the worksheet. 3. After filtering is complete, record the effectiveness of filtering and your
Water Pollution Worksheet Name: 5 th Grade PSI Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Observation of Pollutant Prediction: Will the filter remove the pollutant? Why or why not? Effectiveness of Filtering & Post Observation Source and Type of Pollution
Analysis Questions 1. Were any of the samples successfully filtered out? 2. The soil in the funnel acted as a filter to remove the pollutants from the water. What happened to the quality of the soil as the pollutants were removed from the water? 3. What did you observe in the Downstream Sample jar? What did this water represent? 4. What are some different sources of water pollution not examined in this lab? 5. How does water pollution affect animals and people? 6. Observe 5 types of items/waste that go down your kitchen sink drain. Describe each item/waste below. a. b. c. d. e.