NGSS Aligned: Water Conservation Lab: Students Design and Carry Out a Study

In this activity NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) aligned activity, students (Part 1:) design and carry out a study to calculate how much water will be saved if they turn the water off while brushing their teeth, and (Part 2:) design a and carry out a loner-term study at home to calculate how much water can be conserved. The lesson proceeds as follows:
1. First, students watch a short video on water conservation, and the growing water shortage crisis worldwide. They answer a few questions based upon the video.
2. Then, students design a simple study to calculate the amount of water that could be saved if they turn the water off while brushing their teeth. They carry out the procedure, and answer
conclusion questions.
3. Finally, there is option for students design a larger, more long term water conservation study
to be carried out at home, perform some calculations, and answer some conclusion
questions.

Time Frame: Part 1 should only take one class period. The optional second part is mostly done at home, and can be run over a weekend, or as long as a full week.

Details Below:

A. NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS HEREIN
DCI’s: ESS3: Earth and Human Activity, ETS1: Engineering Design

Cross Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect, Scale Proportion and Quantity

Scientific and Engineering Practices:
Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Designing solutions, Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking

B. SUGGESTED USES

Prior Knowledge: Students do not need to have any specific prior knowledge to complete this activity. However, they will be performing some simple math calculations.

Materials and Setup: For part 1, students will need access to a sink/faucet. They will need a bucket/container, a beaker, a stopwatch (phone or clock will work will work).

A couple of benefits of this activity are: (1) It can be used for most grades and (2) the teacher can just do part 1, or go further by having students do part 2 as well.

Terms of Use
• This packet is 1 classroom/teacher use only. Do not make copies or
email it to your colleagues. This was designed by me and is for your
personal (one user)use. You may
not share it or claim it as your own. You may not redistribute it.
If colleagues are interested in it, please send them the link to my store:
• You are not permitted to use any part of this work to
create products for sharing or selling.
• You are permitted to share the cover image of the packet
on your website when referring to it in a post, as long as
you link back to my store.
All rights reserved by author. ©Michael Kelly