Rainwater RunoffCreated by Tom Jackson

ActivityActivity TypeDescription
hookdiscussBegin by discussing how hard surfaces such as concrete for roads and parking lots prevents rainwater from being absorbed by the ground. It instead runs off the parking lot and into ponds. This pollution can affect nearby streams, ponds, and lakes.
  • Students will discuss...Begin by discussing how hard surfaces such as concrete for roads and parking lots prevents rainwater from being absorbed by the ground. It instead runs off the parking lot and into ponds. This pollution can affect nearby streams, ponds, and lakes.
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    informreadStudents read about a fictional town of lakeside that gets their drinking water from their lake. Their lake has blue-green algae growing due to pollution that runs into the water from a nearby parking lot. They read about how rain gardens use an engineered sub-soil to filter pollutants.
    • Students will read...Students read about a fictional town of lakeside that gets their drinking water from their lake. Their lake has blue-green algae growing due to pollution that runs into the water from a nearby parking lot. They read about how rain gardens use an engineered sub-soil to filter pollutants.
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    practicedo groupworkStudents work in groups to test different soil types. An emptied out syringe is used for testing. Students test the time it takes for the water to filter through the different types of soil and then measure how much pollution each type removed. They test for the removal of silt and the removal of phosphate. The kit recommends extending testing to have students test layers of different types of soil and also test mixtures of soil.
    • In groups, students will...Students work in groups to test different soil types. An emptied out syringe is used for testing. Students test the time it takes for the water to filter through the different types of soil and then measure how much pollution each type removed. They test for the removal of silt and the removal of phosphate. The kit recommends extending testing to have students test layers of different types of soil and also test mixtures of soil.
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      applycreateStudents will take the information from their tests to layer and combine the soils to create a model subsoil for the rain garden. The Hand2Mind kit has a set of criteria and constraints. One of the constraints is cost. Each soil type costs a different amount of money. They have to calculate the volume of the garden they will build and the percent of each type of soil. They test their model and redesign as necessary. The students then present their design to the "city council" of Lakeside.
      • Students will create...Students will take the information from their tests to layer and combine the soils to create a model subsoil for the rain garden. The Hand2Mind kit has a set of criteria and constraints. One of the constraints is cost. Each soil type costs a different amount of money. They have to calculate the volume of the garden they will build and the percent of each type of soil. They test their model and redesign as necessary. The students then present their design to the "city council" of Lakeside.
      • How does this connect to the real world?The library in Covington, Washington uses a rainwater garden to filter pollution.
      • Additional descriptions for teachersInviting administrators or coaches to act as the city council helps to engage students.
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        1. Standard Not Met2. Approaching Standard3. Standard Met4. Exceeding Standard
        MS-ETS1-3 - Engineering DesignAnalyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
        Analyzed data from tests of an object or tool to determine if it works as intended.
        Analyzed data from tests to determine similarities or differences among design solutions to identify the better solutions.
        Analyzed data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
        Evaluated the impact of new data on a working explanation and/or model of a proposed process or system. Analyzed data to identify design features or characteristics of the components of a proposed process or system to optimize it relative to criteria for success.
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