Students dive into the science of drinking water to better understand water quality through the water cycle and humans’ impact on this natural resource. Students will also be introduced to a new metric for assessing water quality: microplastics.

• Grades: 3–6
• Capacity: 30 students
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Cost: $170
• Offered Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:15 and 11:45 a.m.
• This lab can be done concurrently. We can accommodate up to four groups per day (depending on availability).

Register online

Skyline Scope & Sequence connection

3rd: Environments & Climate
4th: Earth’s Features
5th: Modeling Matter; Earth Systems
6th: Metabolism; Oceans, Atmosphere & Climate; Weather Patterns

Next Generation Science Standards

Science and Engineering Practices:

• Asking questions and defining problems
• Developing and using models
• Planning and carrying out investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Engaging in argument from evidence
• Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information

Crosscutting Concepts:

• Systems & models (the water cycle)
• Energy and matter: flows, cycles and conservation
• Stability and change
• Cause and effect

Disciplinary Core Ideas:

LS4.D: Information Processing
ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems
ESS2.C: The Role of Water in Earth's Surface Processes
ESS2.D: Weather & Climate
ESS3.A: Natural Resources
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Lab goals

Students will:

• Increase their understanding of humanity’s place and impact on the water cycle.
• Understand the connection between water quality and health.
• Increase their understanding of the importance of water quality in our drinking water.
• Increase their understanding of the components of water quality.
• Get an introduction to the science of water quality and how to test for it.
• Recognize microplastics as an aspect of water quality and a current problem facing the world.