Eco-Friendly Water Filtration Activity

Kids were given the scenario in the book Hatchet and to imagine themselves stranded in nature without drinking water.  They had to use natural elements to create a filter using a water bottle, a net or piece of cloth, and a rubber band.  This was a class room project where the experiment can be recreated 3 times to see which materials worked the best.  Kids loved this challenge and soon were competing to see who had the clearest water at the end of class.

Eco-Friendly Activity Water Filtration Supplies

• Cups (plastic or paper)
• Old water bottles, with bottom cut off
• Rubber bands
• Filter nets, cut thin mesh filter the size of 2″ by 2″ (or piece of cheese cloth)
• Various natural filtering elements: sand, medium gravel, coarse gravel, pine needles, etc.
• Water mixed with soil

Eco-Friendly Activity Water Filtration Directions

Step 1. Here are the supplies used for this experiment: Cups, Rubber Bands, Mesh Filters, Water Bottles without bottoms.

Step 2. Mix water with soil to create “dirty water” that needs to be filtered.

Step 3. Position filter on top of the mouth of the bottle and secure with rubber band.

Step 4. This is the challenging part.  Figure out what proportion of natural elements to use to create your filter.  Students can use one, two, or all combinations of materials.  The key is when you pour the water into the bottle, n times, that for subsequent trials where a different filter is used, you should filter the water the same number of times.

Step 5. Pour “dirty water” into the bottom of the water bottle, “n” number of times.

Step 6. When you have finished trial 1 by filtering the water “n” times, dump out the contents of the water bottle.  Move on to trial 2, by repeating steps 1-6 by filling your water bottle with a new combination of materials for your filter and filtering the water “n” times.  Complete this entire process until you have 3 complete trials.

Step 7. For each trial evaluate the turbidity of the color of the water.  Turbidity is the general cloudiness of a liquid and is a key test to water quality.  Indicate on the notes the general turbidity of the resulting water.  NTU stands for Nephelometric Turbidity Units.

Step 8. Evaluate which filter was the clearest.  Let kids fill out the information below and provide their own conclusion.

Trial 1:

Materials used: __________________________

Water Filtered n times.  n= __________________

Tribidity Result: _________________________

Trial 2:

Materials used: __________________________

Water Filtered n times.  n= __________________

Tribidity Result: _________________________

Trial 3:

Materials used: __________________________

Water Filtered n times.  n= __________________

Tribidity Result: _________________________

Conclusion:

Trial ____ produced the clearest result. Materials used: ________________________________

Caution: Do not allow students to drink the clear water.  Even if the water is clear, it still contains bacteria and other harmful elements.

Other Eco-Friendly or Camping Party Ideas Posts

• Seventh Generation Products
• Eco-Friendly Activity: Scavenger Hunt and Nature Hike
• Eco-Friendly Activity: Water Filtration
• Eco-Friendly Activity: Fairy and Leprechaun Houses
• Recycled Milk Carton Favor Boxes