In this 1-2 week engineering design lesson, students will design and build water filters out of natural materials to simulate a filter system (bioswales) that cleans storm-water runoff before it soaks into the ground or enters a city’s storm-drain system. Their ultimate goal is to determine the combination and sequence of materials that best clean polluted water. Using materials easily found in pet stores and garden centers, students use the scientific method, students design to test and retest their designs and record, display and analyze their results.

Student teams locate a contaminant spill in a hypothetical site by measuring the pH of soil samples. Then they predict the direction of groundwater flow using mathematical modeling. They also use the engineering design process to come up with alternative treatments for the contaminated water.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.

The intended purpose of this document is to provide teachers with a tool to determine student understanding and suggest instructional moves that may help guide a student forward in their learning. It is not an exhaustive list of strategies.