Infections and Health Activity Worksheet

Instructions: Complete all parts of this worksheet. You will submit your completed worksheet.

Introduction

Contaminated water is a health risk, and not all populations have access to clean water. You are going to use household items to design, test, and revise a water filtration system. New technologies undergo testing and revision before they are released to the public. This lab will simulate how the scientific process is used to solve problems.

Purpose
The purpose of your design is to filter dirt, sand, and other sediment from “swamp” water. You do not need to make it drinkable during this design. You will begin with a water sample that has visible dirt, mud, or other contaminants. You will design a way to filter the water and evaluate your design. You will not be able to test for microorganisms or to filter them out during this design process. Do not test the water by drinking it.

Important: Do NOT drink the water in your experiment.

Materials

“Swamp” water (You can get this from an outside source like hole in the ground, puddle, lake, river, swamp. Or, you may add dirt and sediment to tap water.) The starting sample should have visible dirt or sediment.

You may use any household materials for your water filtration system. Here are some suggestions:

· Cheesecloth

· Coffee filters

· Cotton balls

· Funnel

· Old t-shirt

· Pantyhose

· Sock

· Water bottle

Planning for Design One

Use this space to write out the plan for your water filtration design. List the materials you will use and how it will work. Use complete sentences and detailed examples. You may include sketches or diagrams.

Data for Design One

Describe the appearance and smell of the “swamp” water before and after filtration. Use complete sentences and detailed examples.

Water before filtration

Water after filtration

Description of appearance

Description of smell or other physical characteristics

Rate the visible cleanliness of the water on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the cleanest.

Feedback

Consult a peer or a family member about ways your design could be improved. Describe the feedback and provide the name of the reviewer. These are only suggestions that you can use to plan for Design Two. Use complete sentences and detailed examples.

Planning for Design Two

Use this space to plan out how to improve your water filter. Based on the feedback you received, what part are you trying to improve? Why did you make the changes that you did? Use complete sentences and detailed examples. You may include sketches or diagrams.

Data for Design Two

Use the data and feedback from your first design to make changes to your water filtration system. Test your new design. Record the appearance and smell of the “swamp” water before and after filtration. Use complete sentences and detailed examples.