Name: _____________________________ Section:___________ Date: _________ Score:_________

DIY WATER FILTER

Objectives:
1. To identify the correct order of materials and come up with diy water filter.
2. To apply the steps in the scientific method in making the diy water filter.
Introduction:
Water covers two-thirds of the Earth's surface and makes up about 60% of adults’ bodies, including 75%
of our brains! Each day, it is recommended that we consume more than two liters of drinking water /
purified water. And thanks to professionals that work in public health to ensure we have a safe drinking
water supply without impurities, we can all drink to meet these needs.
Water treatment science and advanced water systems enable us to purify dirty water so it's safe for our
purposes. Let's conduct a water purification project to better understand our water sources, water
purification systems, and general water resources. This type of experiment is a perfect science fair
project for either middle school or elementary school students!
Materials:
 1/2 L of swamp water or tap water with mud or dirt added (the water quality is not
important)
 2 L soda bottle/plastic bottle with its lid
 2 L plastic soda bottle—cut in half (have an adult help with cutting)
 1000 ml beaker
 2 20 oz plastic cups
 2 cups fine sand
 1 cups coarse sand
 1 cup small pebbles
 1 pack cotton
 1 rubber band
 1 large spoon for stirring
 stopwatch or timer

Procedure:
1. Pour swamp water in the 2-liter bottle with a lid. Notice how it looks and smells.
2. Put the lid on the bottle and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Then pour the water back and
forth between the two cups about 10 times.
3. Pour the water into the bottle with its top cut off. Again, notice how the water looks and smells.
4. Now let the water sit undisturbed for 20 minutes, checking it every five minutes to note how it
looks and smells (without moving it).
5. Use a rubber band to secure the cotton to the mouth of the bottle with its bottom cut off. Put it
upside down in the beaker.
6. Pour the pebbles into the bottle. Then pour the coarse sand on top of the pebbles and the fine
sand on top of the coarse sand.
7. Carefully pour about two liters of clean tap water through, being careful not to disturb the top
layer of sand. Pour the rinsed water out of the beaker.
8. Pour the top 2/3 of the swamp water through the filter, taking care to leave the sediment in the
swamp water bottle.
9. Once all the water has passed through the filter, compare the swamp water with contaminants
to the filtered water. How do they look and smell different?
 Scientific Method:

1. Making an Observation:
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2. Asking a Question:
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3. Formulating a Hypothesis:
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4. Performing an Experiment:
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5. Recording and Analyzing Results:

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6. Drawing Conclusions:
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7. Communicating the Results: