Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this activity students will explore the way soil and plants contribute to the purification of contaminated water in nature. Students conduct experiments to  compare how successful soil and plants are in removing particulates from water by watering plants with contaminated water and assessing the filtered water for turbidity. This activity requires considerable preparation and resources but is simple and effective to run. This activity has been adapted from Scientist in Residence Program (scientistinresidence.ca).

Learning goals:

  • Students will learn soils and plants naturally filter and clean water before they enter the waterways.
  • Students understand that stormwater from roads and homes as well as disturbed land is not filtered and can pollute waterways.

Australian Curriculum Mapping 

Content descriptions:

Year 5 Science

  • Decide which variable should be changed and measured in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS087)
  • Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations (ACSIS218)

Year 5 Mathematics

  • Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass (ACMMG108)

Year 6 Science

  • Decide which variable should be changed and measured in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS104)
  • Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations (ACSIS221)

Year 6 Mathematics

  • Connect volume and capacity and their units of measurement (ACMMG138)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST3-4WS, MA3-10MG, MA3-11MG, MA3-12MG, MA3-9MG, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑2WM, MA3‑3WM. 

Topic: Pollution

Year levels: 5 and 6

Indoor or outdoor activity: Indoor

Time required: 45 mins 

Learning areas addressed: Science.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Lead students in activity.

Resources required: You will need different resources for teacher demonstrations, for group experiments and for each student. See next page for full list of resources required.

Homework and extension opportunities: This activity includes opportunities for extension.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Several weeks prior to holding this lesson you will need to begin planting the plants that you will use in this activity. Plants can be grown from seed in plastic pots with drainage holes filled with potting soil. Any plant that provides a thick layer of growth should be suitable as a biofilter (a natural filter). Grass grown from seed is suggested because it can be grown quickly and easily using seeds purchased from any hardware store or garden centre.

Prior to the activity, water the plants slowly with fresh water to determine if too much of the potting soil is washed out with the draining water - if so, add a thicker layer of pebbles inside the bottom of the pots.

Stop watering the plants at least two days prior to the activity - you want the soil to be moderately dry - plants with saturated soil will not absorb water, and very dry plants will absorb it all.

Activity outline

On the day of this activity, begin by asking students if they know of anywhere where

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Student Worksheet

Biofiltration experiment procedure - Worksheet 1

Work through the instructions below to set up and conduct your water filtration experiment. Record the results on your Recording Sheet.

 For this experiment your group will need:

• 4 x biofiltration pots (2 x soil only pots and 2 x plant pots)

• ‘Contaminated’ water

• Clean water

• 1 x 500ml measuring cup

• 4 x containers for collecting filtered water

• Several small containers for collecting filtered water (dependent on how many ‘passages’ students do).

• Recording Sheet or workbook.

 

Experiment procedure

1. In this experiment your group will be testing four biofiltration units, two consisting of only soil (soil pots) and two consisting of soil with plants (plant pots).

You will be pouring contaminated water on one soil pot and one plant pot, and you will be pouring clean water on one soil pot and one plant pot. You will then be recording the quantity and turbidity of the water that drains out of each pot.

2. Your teacher

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