Treatment of Water Teacher's Guide

Lesson 2 Treatment of Water Teacher’s Guide

In this lesson, students will investigate how water is made safe to drink in a modern water treatment facility. They will work as teams of engineers to study one step in the water treatment process: filtraton. In an inquiry- based activity, they will design, build, test, and evaluate a water filter capable of being used in the process to produce clean drinking water.

This lesson is appropriate for students in grades 5-8 working in a cooperative learning environment in teams of four students each and will take approximately two 50-minute class periods to complete.

SafeWaterScience lessons for life

15 Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 16 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa Content Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard F: Science in Risks and benefits Nature of Science Content Standard G: History and Science as a human endeavor Content Standard D: Earth and Space Science Content Standard D: Earth and of the earth system Structure Technology Content Standard E: Science and Abilities of technological design Understandings about science and technology Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Abilities necessary to scientific inquiry Understandings about Science Content Standard B: Physical in matter and changes of properties Properties Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry Content Standard National Science Content Science National 5-8 Grades Standards: Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 17 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa • Supply of activated granular charcoal *Not supplied in kit • Cotton balls* • Cotton cloth* • Panty hose* scouring pad) • ScotchBrite pad* (or any flat green • Supply of aquarium pebbles, washed • Supply of fine aquarium sand, washed • Supply of paper towels for potential spills* • 4 copies of the Student Activity Packet • 4 pairs of safety goggles* materials for use in their filter apparatus: Access to the following filtering • Cheese cloth • 100 mL of dirty water in a plastic cup cut off* • 1 clear 16oz. water bottle with the bottom water) • 1 9oz. plastic cup (to collect filtered another 9oz. plastic cup, with a hole cut in the bottom) • 1 domed “slushie” lid (can substitute filter • 1 coffee • 1 rubber band • 1 sheet of plain white paper* Student Materials have: Each team of 4 students should • 1 permanent marker* pet store) at discount can be purchased pebbles, washed (refill: ½ cup of aquarium • Approximately pet store) at discount can be purchased aquarium sand, washed (refill: ½ cup fine • Approximately at discount pet store) can be purchased (refill: 2-3 tablespoons of activated granular charcoal • Approximately labs reuse in future materials to • 1 plastic colander for separating filter tap water* • Supply of fresh • 1 large plastic spoon • 1 large • Scissors filter • Coffee • Rubber band • 9oz. plastic cup water bottle, with bottom cut off • 16oz. clear plastic bottom) cup, with a hole cut in the lid (can substitute another 9oz. plastic • 1 domed “slushie” Teacher Materials Teacher the teacher: are needed by materials The following container) water in a large soil/dirt in 1 L of tap of finely pulverized water (mix 1 teaspoon • 1 L of dirty or blue) coloring (red of food • 2-3 drops Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 18 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa

fe Sa Aeration Aeration Disinfection and Storage Disinfection and Storage Stage(s) of Water Treatment Stage(s) of Water Filtration, Disinfection and Storage Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration Aeration, Coagulation, Sedimentation, Aeration, Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration Aeration, Coagulation, Sedimentation, Aeration, Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration Coagulation, Sedimentation, Filtration, Disinfection and Storage Sand Gravel Leaves Viruses Sewage Bacteria Fertilizers Pesticides Methane gas Parasitic Worms This is a guided inquiry activity in which students will work as teams of engineers to design, build, test, This is a guided inquiry activity in which students will work as teams of engineers not to being careful you will act as a facilitator, As teacher, and evaluate a filter for cleaning dirty water. choice of materials to build the filter. influence the student’s their responses. Hand out a copy of the Student Activity Packet to each student. Ask the students if they know where their their Ask the students if they know where the Student Activity Packet to each student. Hand out a copy of and discuss have students share how it is made safe to drink. As a class, and from drinking water comes Possible Contaminant Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Hydrogen examined in lesson 4. If you choose to do this activity as a demonstration and not an inquiry-based lesson, see section E, page 5. Advance Preparation, II. Activity: Design And Build The Best Filter filtration. The other stages will be process: Students will be studying only one of the five stages of the treatment Read instructions for the Warm Up activity with the students, answer any questions, and then allow the teams to Up activity with the students, answer any questions, and then allow the teams Read instructions for the Warm within their teams. Discuss the Students should discuss answers this activity. work cooperatively for 10-15 minutes on as follows: are answers as a class. Suggested responses Just listen to their ideas; do not correct their answers. Tell students they will discover more about their drinking about their drinking they will discover more students their answers. Tell do not correct Just listen to their ideas; during this lesson. a valuable resource, water, for educational purposes, to usually free for a set of brochures, facility may contact your local water treatment You your students. with share a water filtration device, and individually complete a set of Cool Down questions. of Cool Down set a complete individually and device, filtration a water Up I. Warm Lesson 2 Lesson Water of Treatment construct to learn how Up activity, Warm complete to within their teams The students will work Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 19 e Scienc 2 lessons for life ter Wa fe 1 3 Sa manent marker 8 cm from the opening of the neck the from manent marker 8 cm the filtration materials to the first, so add the filtration materials as examples for the students. Do not sample filter apparati two clear water. Note: you must use “washed sand” to produce clear to produce Note: you must use “washed sand” clear water. water. the dirty water to the filter, covering the entire surface of the covering the entire the dirty water to the filter, charcoal. 100 mL of It is not necessary to filter the entire the water. from dirty water to determine filter is capable of producing that the of fine aquarium sand and aquarium pebbles. Add another 1 cm of fine aquarium sand and aquarium pebbles. to the top of the sand and pebble of activated granular charcoal mixture. test, slowly add 100 mL of demonstrating it to the students. To upright. Place the whole structure into the clear 9oz. plastic cup. upright. Place the whole structure opening with a small piece of coffee filter. filter. piece of coffee opening with a small stands it that so lid” “slushie the in hole the through band) rubber Insert the neck of the bottle (now covered with a coffee filter and with a coffee Insert the neck of the bottle (now covered 3. Observe as the particulate matter and food coloring are filtered filtered 3. Observe as the particulate matter and food coloring are 1. Fill the inverted bottle 7 cm high with a mixture of equal amounts a mixture 1. Fill the inverted bottle 7 cm high with to test the operation of this “ideal” filter before 2. Be sure 1. Take one of the prepared water bottles and cover the neck water the prepared one of 1. Take neck with a rubber band. filter to the bottle the coffee 2. Secure 3. materials at the end of class. from your dirty water. You will use this filter as an example of an “ideal” You dirty water. your from students have completed their filter at the end of the lesson, after the filters. the materials they need: cheese cloth, activated charcoal, sand, and activated charcoal, the materials they need: cheese cloth, may include additional materials, or have students pebbles, etc. You home. bring materials of their choosing from clear 16-oz water bottle. On each bottle, draw a line with a per On each bottle, draw a line with a clear 16-oz water bottle. up to this mark. materials of filtration will fill the bottle with their choice of the bottle. Students the “ideal” filter (see step E below). to create choices. Use the second as not to bias the student’s filtering process, add 2-3 drops of red or blue food coloring to the container of dirty water. of dirty water. to the container red or blue food coloring of add 2-3 drops filtering process, of each cut the bottom off remove the lids, and by teacher): for an “ideal” filter prepared apparatus, and one Prepare a large container in which students may dispose of their wet container in which students may dispose of their a large Prepare Prepare Prepare Prepare the water bottles that will hold the filters (one for each team of 4 students, one for the sample filter one for the sample of 4 students, (one for each team will hold the filters the water bottles that Prepare Build and test an “ideal” filter capable of removing the contaminants of Build and test an “ideal” filter capable Prepare enough dirty water for each class (see Teacher Materials). To make the dirty water visible during the the dirty water visible make To Materials). Teacher for each class (see enough dirty water Prepare Set up a station in your classroom where student teams will collect student teams where Set up a station in your classroom

F. E. D. C. A. B. This lesson provides a good opportunity for students to assume roles within the team. a good opportunity for students to assume roles This lesson provides could be as follows: Possible roles Student Lab Roles Pre-Session Preparation Pre-Session Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 20 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa procedures, assign tasks to the other group members with the Team Coach as primary assistant. Coach as with the Team members group assign tasks to the other procedures, Read and interpret the procedures and other instructions for the team. the procedures Read and interpret team questions to the teacher during the lab. all Direct Coach. as Team If one team member is absent, also act Be responsible for obtaining all materials for the lab. for obtaining Be responsible needed to perform than one person is the for the team. If more Perform of the lab procedures most observing all safety guidelines. is that the group Coach to make sure the Team with Work Record all observations and data as the lab is being performed. Other team members will record data data as the lab is being performed. all observations and will record Other team members Record later on their own papers. etc. overhead, or marker board, on the board, by teams to be reported any data that are Record the team for all timed observations. the clock for Watch Keep the team on task at all times. Keep the followed. are and that safety guidelines performing their roles are that others Make sure in performing Manager assistant to the Equipment Be the main lab procedures. to all team members. by assigning tasks clean up is complete that lab Make sure job team to do a good Motivate the students rinse and dry the water bottles and cups for the next class. additional materials from home, include this in their homework assignments for the day. additional materials from ½ to 1 cm) needs water (approximately step 2-4). Only a small amount of filtered their filters (student procedures of their filters. students may evaluate the effectiveness to be collected before team’s design is complete, approve the procedure by signing each team member’s Student Activity Packet. Only by signing each team member’s the procedure design is complete, approve team’s sign if ALL students in a team have the design diagram and explanation completed to your satisfaction. Discuss with the students their roles as engineers and answer any questions they may have. Depending on your as engineers and answer any questions they may Discuss with the students their roles logo to display at their lab an engineering company name and create time constraints, you could have each team stations. their choice of optional materials. not to influence Be sure the sample filter apparatus you prepared. questions they completed together. Students may suggest getting rid of the dirt, some may suggest filtering, and filtering, suggest may some dirt, the of rid getting suggest may Students together. completed they questions that need to be killed. bacteria in the water are some may even suggest that there • • • Equipment Manager • • • Manager Procedure Data Manager • • • • • • • • After all teams have had their filter designs approved, allow the teams 25-30 minutes to build, test, and evaluate After all teams have had their filter designs approved, to have disposal of the lab materials. Be sure cleaning and them in proper finished, direct When all teams are As a class, discuss student procedure step 1, and allow the teams 10-15 minutes to design their filters. After each As a class, discuss student procedure want students to bring in If the activity cannot be completed in one class period, stop at this point. If you Discuss the required and optional materials used for construction of the filters. At this time, show the students and optional materials used for construction Discuss the required Show the class the liter of dirty water you prepared. Ask the group if they would be willing to drink this water. if they would be willing to drink this the group Ask prepared. Show the class the liter of dirty water you Up to the Warm refer necessary to make this water safe to drink. They may Ask them what steps they think are Activity Packet. to the Design & Build The Best Filter section of the Student Read together the introduction F. G. E. D. A. B. C. Classroom Procedure Classroom Team Coach Team Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 21 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa Answers will vary. Students are expected to reflect on their lab results and what they learnedresults on their lab in the expected to reflect Students are Answers will vary. Will your filter help improve the quality of water available to citizens in the developing the quality of water available to citizens in the developing Will your filter help improve world? Explain. 1. country. However, some may feel a personal responsibility to reach out to those who are less fortunate. It is a out to those who are to reach some may feel a personal responsibility However, country. involved in this important and worthy endeavor. young people to be more goal of this curriculum to help direct l treatment such as chlorine or should be boiled. using a chemical treatment Because of this, the water should be disinfected personal role their however they should realize that the government Many will realize is responsible; community. by becoming an informedin this process and educated citizen. due to the risk of being exposed to harmful microorganisms. due to the risk of being exposed to harmful microorganisms. Warm Up activity. activity. Up Warm Whose responsibility is it to make sure that people in developing countries have safe drinking water? Explain. water? drinking safe have countries developing in people that sure make to it is responsibility Whose of the government that it is the responsibility of the developing Students may suggest Again, answers will vary. Whose responsibility is it to make sure that your personal drinking water is safe? Explain. that your personal is it to make sure Whose responsibility drinking water for their for ensuring safe about who is responsible Most students of this age have not thought Answers will vary. Many students would not choose to drink the water without some kind of disinfection process kind of disinfection process Many students would not choose to drink the water without some Answers will vary. to make drinking water safe? required may be processes what other treatment In addition to your filter, looks clean, it may contain harmful water microorganisms. that although the filtered Students should realize Would you drink the water that passed through your filter? Why or why not? your drink the water that passed through you Would Optional Extension 5. 4. 3. 2. stions, either in class or questions, either in class individually to complete the Cool Down Students should work completed, lead the class through After the questions have been as a homework assignment. a guided discussion. Cleanup wet materials into a colander/strainer and the fine sand by putting the from and charcoal Separate the wet pebbles out the the sand, and spread water from Decant the the colander. sand to pass through allowing the water and can then be used again. The materials materials to dry. III. Cool Down Evaluation of Results of Results Evaluation in the through food coloring come their filter will have in granular charcoal that did not use activated Any team learn but rather to draw good conclusions and filter, teams build the perfect is not to have all The idea water. filtered on how not be based for grades should work best. Evaluation as to what materials results the various team from learning demonstrates his/her on how well a student water came out, but based on written clear the filtered Activity Packet. in the Student and responses observations Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 22 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa l ning games about all aspects of water quality. For ning games about all aspects of water quality. l l . l l and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. Salina builds a case against the growing the growing Crisis. Salina builds a case against Water issue of the 21st Century - The World and environmental rights, human pollution, politics, on focus unflinching an with supply water fresh dwindling world’s the of privatization of a domineering world water cartel. and the emergence http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/watertreatmentplant/index.htm Students can click on different diagram included in the Student Activity Packet. This website has the water treatment each stage of the process. parts of the diagram to learn about more http://www.flowthefilm.com/ important political documentary investigation into what experts label the most award-winning Salina’s Irena At this website, kids can participate in interactive on-line lear At this website, kids can participate in interactive the water cycle while they learncontrol about it. example, in one interactive game, kids http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_filtration.htm shows the steps outlined link to a water filtration activity kids can do at home. The animated video This is the direct includes explanations of materials and vocabulary. Up questions and in the Warm http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/kids_4-8.htm with many and other lessons about water quality, links to many games, printable activities, This website contains students. high school and elementary school toward activities geared http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/gamesandactivies.htm Visit the following USEPA website for many games and activities related to water quality: and activities related website for many games Visit USEPA the following http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/kids_4-8.htm Websites Helpful Water Treatment Water speak to your facility come and treatment your local water from a professional plant or have Visit treatment a water teaching about the ideas for or to obtain more materials facility for free treatment your local water class. Contact process. water treatment Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 23 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa / fe Sa http://education.yahoo.com the act or process of depositing sediments. the act or process Virus parasites of any of various simple submicroscopic cause disease plants, animals, and bacteria that often of RNA or DNA and that consist essentially of a core coat. Unable to replicate by a protein surrounded typically not considered without a host cell, viruses are a living organism. resource: Disinfect the growth or prevent so as to destroy to cleanse Synonyms: micro-organisms. of disease-carrying sanitize, clean. decontaminate, sterilize, Fertilizer and synthetic number of natural any of a large phosphorus, and nitrogen, manure materials, including on or worked into spread and potassium compounds, support plant growth. its capacity to soil to increase Filtration a porous gas or liquid through the act of passing a suspended the fluid from to separate material in order particulate matter. Pesticide insects. a chemical used to kill pests, especially Sedimentation org/wiki/developing-country) living, an undeveloped industrial base, and a relatively and a relatively living, an undeveloped industrial base, (HDI). In low Human Development Index score is low per capita income, developing countries, there and low capital formation. Some poverty, widespread Algeria, Botswana, Armenia, Azerbaijan, examples are (http://en.wikipedia. Guatemala, Brazil, and Paraguay. Coagulation the transformation of a liquid into a soft, semisolid, or curdling solid mass. Synonyms: clotting, congealing, Developing country of low standard a developing country has a relatively pathogenic in plants or animals. pathogenic in plants Chlorination with chlorine or or combining of treating the process is to a chlorine compound. Most often the purpose disinfect of harmful microorganisms. breathing. Bacteria microorganisms prokaryotic any of the unicellular which vary in termsof the class Schizomycetes, of nutritional requirements, oxygen and morphology, or saprophytic, free-living, and may be and motility, Glossary of Key Words of Key Glossary Aeration to with air or exposing of supplying the process airing, ventilation, Synonyms: of air. the circulation Safe Water Science Lesson 2: Treatment Of Water 24 e Scienc lessons for life ter Wa fe Sa martha.brosz@ ) – Middle School Educator. m ) – Chemistry Instructors at Cincinnati State ) – Chemistry Instructors u [email protected] . [email protected] http://www.epa.gov/ow/ ) or Mary Repaske ( u For assistance with the structure of the lesson plans, help with materials, or classroom management techniques as management techniques as or classroom of the lesson plans, help with materials, the structure For assistance with Null ( contact Teresa to the lessons, please they relate Need help? Need ( please contact Martha Brosz chemistry and other scientific concepts, For assistance with cincinnatistate.ed Community College. and Technical Acknowledgements Environmental by the US sponsored websites through provided for these lessons were used resources Many of the Agency: Protection H2O

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Lesson 2 Treatment of Water Student Activity Packet Name Treatment of Water

Challenge: Design, build, test, and evaluate the effectiveness of a water filter used to change dirty water into safe and clean drinking water. Lesson 2 Warm Up With your team, examine the following diagram of a typical water treatment plant in the United States. Read the descriptions of the stages.

1. Aeration 1 An initial process by which air is Lake added to water and gasses that are trapped in water are allowed to escape.

2. Coagulation The process by which chemicals are added so that dirt and 2 other suspended solid particles chemically stick together into “floc” (clumps of dirt and sediment) and can easily be removed from the water.

3. Sedimentation The process that occurs when gravity pulls the particles of floc to the bottom of the container.

4. Filtration 3 The process that removes most of the impurities remaining in water after coagulation and sedimentation have taken place.

5. Disinfection & Storage The final process in which chemicals such as chlorine are added to water to kill harmful micro-organisms. The water is then stored in large quantities to be used by the community.

4 5

Chlorine

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 13 lessons for life Name

For each possible contaminant in the table below, list the stage in the treatment process in which the contaminant would be removed from water, making it safe to drink. More than one stage may be listed for any contaminant.

Lesson 2 Contaminant Stage(s) of Water Treatment Warm Up

Bacteria

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas

Gravel

Viruses

Sewage

Fertilizers

Methane Gas

Sand

Leaves

Worms

Pesticides

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 14 lessons for life Name Design & Build The Best Filter

In the United States we are fortunate to have some of the best water treatment systems in the world, which use the five treatment stages discussed in the Warm Up activity. Lesson 2 Activity Many people in developing countries, however, lack access to safe drinking water. Often, the only stage available to them is the filtration stage, in which they filter large particles out of the water using a cloth. However, for the water to be safe to drink additional stages of the treatment process are needed, especially the disinfection stage.

This activity will focus on the filtration stage. Your job is to become an engineer and design a better filter for the citizens in developing countries. You will construct your filter, test it, and evaluate how effective it could be for supplying clean drinking water.

General materials: Filtering materials: • 1 sheet of plain white paper • Cheese cloth • Supply of paper towels for potential spills • Cotton balls • 4 copies of the Student Activity Packet • Cotton cloth • 4 pairs of safety goggles • Panty hose • ScotchBrite pad Filter apparatus materials: • Supply of aquarium pebbles, washed • 100 mL of dirty water in a plastic cup • Supply of fine aquarium sand, washed • 1 clear water bottle with the bottom cut off* • Supply of activated granular charcoal • 1 9oz. plastic cup (to collect filtered water) • 1 domed “slushie” lid • 1 coffee filter • 1 rubber band

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 15 lessons for life Name

Procedure Step 1: Design Your Filter

Discuss with your team the materials available for building your filter. Build your filter apparatus -ac cording to the plan (next page) and select some or all of the available filtering materials to use inside Lesson 2 the apparatus. Activity The filtration materials will be layered inside the bottle. Use the digram (left) to design your filter. Draw in and label which Filtration materials you think will best filter the dirty water. Remember, you may use some or all of the available filtration materials.

Describe how each material you use in your filter will help clean the water and why you think your filter will work.

______

8 cm Do not add filtering Share your design with your teacher, and obtain your materials past this line teacher’s signature of approval before you continue.

______Teacher Signature

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 16 lessons for life Name

Procedure Step 2: Build your filter

Have one or two team members obtain the Filtration and Structure materials needed to build your filter. Build your filter according to your approved design from Step 1. Be careful not to fill the bottle Lesson 2 higher than 8 cm from the mouth of the bottle with the Filtration materials. Activity Wear your safety goggles at all times.

Filtration materials should not go higher than 8 cm from the opening of the bottle. Follow your design from Step 1.

Place the coffee filter over the mouth of the bottle, and secure it with the rubber band.

The water bottle must be placed upside down in the “slushie lid,” with the mouth of the bottle (covered by the coffee filter) fitted through the hole.

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 17 lessons for life Name

Procedure Step 3: Test your filter

A. Obtain 100 mL of dirty water in a plastic cup from your teacher and a piece of plain white paper. Observe the appearance and smell of the dirty water, and record your observations. Lesson 2 Appearance of dirty water: Activity ______

______

Smell of dirty water:

______

B. Place your filter apparatus on the plain white sheet of paper so you will be able to see clearly the water as it filters through the bottle, and slowly pour the 100 mL of dirty water over the entire surface of the filtering materials in the bottle.

C. Watch carefully for the first drops of filtered water to appear in your collection cup. When about ½-1 cm of filtered water has collected in the cup, observe the appearance and smell of this water, and note any changes in appearance and smell from that of the original dirty water.

Appearance of filtered water:

______

Smell of filtered water:

______

D. Pair up with a member of your team and visit at least two other teams in the room to observe the results of their filters. Take notes comparing your results with those of the other teams.

Observations of the first team:Did this team’s filter work better than yours? Why or why not?

______

Observations from second team: Did this team’s filter work better than yours? Why or why not?

______

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 18 lessons for life Name

Procedure Step 4: Evaluate your filter

Rejoin your team and discuss the results collected from other teams. Answer the following questions:

Lesson 2 1. What worked well with your filter? Activity ______

______

2. What did not work as well as you had planned with your filter?

______

3. How could you improve your filter if you built it again? You may discuss adding materials that were not available to you in this lab.

______

4. Clean up all of your materials according to your teacher’s instructions.

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 19 lessons for life Name Treatment of Water

Answer the following questions on your own using complete sentences. Lesson 2 1. Will your filter help improve the quality of water available to citizens in the developing world? Explain. Cool Down ______

______

2. Would you personally drink the water that passed through your filter? Why or why not?

______

3. In addition to your filter, what other treatment processes may be required to make your water safe to drink?

______

4. Whose responsibility is it to make sure that your personal drinking water is safe? Explain.

______

5. Whose responsibility is it to make sure that people in developing countries have safe drinking water? Explain.

______

SafeWa terScience Treatment of Water 20 lessons for life