Engineering Identity: Use Low-Cost, Readily Available Materials
Students use inexpensive, common materials to build the technologies. Because these materials are affordable and available, learners can continue their engineering explorations at home.
“Which Water Filter Worked Best?”
The class shares the findings from their exploration of water filters, deciding what materials worked best with what kinds of contaminants. Watch & Reflect:
Related Engineering Practices: Communicate Effectively, Construct and Use Models and Prototypes, Explore Properties and Uses of Materials
Reflection Questions
When materials are familiar to students, the process of engineering can become less intimidating. Many students will already be familiar with tea and cornstarch, the contaminants used here, and be able to easily identify when they are and are not present in the water samples.
Using these simple materials means we must discuss models and modeling with our students, including how these materials might stand in for something else to be safe to use in the classroom or visible enough to see without special equipment. Using simple materials helps students practice the important science and engineering concept of modeling.