Down the Drain
Home Summary Down the Drain Human Genetics Noon Day Boiling Point The Global Sun

Project Name:

Down The Drain

URL:

http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/

Project Leader:

Mercedes McKay: mmckay@stevens.edu

Description:

    The purpose of this project is for students to become aware of the amount of water that they use in a week how it compares to other students in the world. Students collect data on water usage in their home.  The data is collected by each student, shared with other students around the world and then analyzed as a class.
    There are 5 lessons provided for the teacher the first having 4 parts. There is a teacher site that provides detailed lessons, curriculum standards, back-up information, publishing policies, and extension activities. The student activities link provides a student friendly explanation of each days lessons. The data entry page appears to be easy to use and viewing data provided by other students is easily available. The project also provides a link to ask an expert questions that might arise while completing the project as well as other reference materials.

Fee:

None

Targeted Age:

Grades 4 - 8

Exceeds a Traditional Lesson:

A classroom teacher could easily do this project non-collaboratively.  Students could collect information in their own home, share it with the class and analyze the results.  Students would be able to hypothesize how the size of the household, genders in the household etc. might effect water usage.  By completing the experiment collaboratively, the student can also look at how location, bodies of water, climate, nationality etc. effect water usage.  
 Down the Drain exceeds the traditional lesson by providing additional variables to the class when making a hypothesis and a conjecture.

Duration:

On-Going

Technical Needs:

Computer with Internet access and a program such as Excel®, Adobe, ClarisWorks, to view student worksheets.

Math Standards Met:

Below are the MSDE Middle School Math Standards met by Down the Drain:

Standard 1.0 Knowledge of Algebra, Patterns, and Functions
    C. Numeric and Graphic Representations of Relationships (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Locate points on a number line and in a coordinate plane
        2. Analyze linear relationships

Standard 3.0 Knowledge of Measurement:
    B. Measurement Tools (6th)
        1.  Measure in customary and metric units
    C. Applications in Measurement (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Estimate and apply measurement formulas (6th, 7th, 8th)
        2. Analyze measurement relationships (7th, 8th)

Standard 4.0 Knowledge of Statistics:
    A. Data Displays (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Organize and display data
    B. Data Analysis (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Analyze data (6th, 7th, 8th)
        2. Describe a set of data (6th, 7th)

Standard 6.0 Knowledge of Number Relationships and Computation/Arithmetic:
    C. Number Computation (6th, 7th,  8th)
        2. Estimation

Standard 7.0 Processes of Mathematics: Standard 7.0 Processes of Mathematics:
    A. Problem Solving (6th, 7th,  8th)
        1. Apply a variety of concepts, processes, and skills to solve problems
    B. Reasoning (6th, 7th,  8th)
        1. Justify ideas or solutions with mathematical concepts or proofs
    C. Communications (6th, 7th,  8th)
        1. Present mathematical ideas using words, symbols, visual displays, or technology
    D. Connections (6th, 7th,  8th)
        1. Relate or apply mathematics within the discipline, to other disciplines, and to life

Science Standards Met:

Below are the MSDE Middle School Science Standards met by Down the Drain:

Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes:
    A. Constructing Knowledge (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Design, analyze, or carry out simple investigations and formulate appropriate conclusions based on data obtained or provided.
    B. Applying Evidence and Reasoning (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Review data from a simple experiment, summarize the data, and construct a logical argument about the cause-and-effect relationships in the                     experiment.
    C. Communicating Scientific Information (6th, 7th, 8th)
        1. Develop explanations that explicitly link data from investigations conducted, selected readings and, when appropriate, contributions from historical         discoveries.
Standard 6.0 Environmental Science:
    A. Natural Resources and Human Needs (6th, 7th)
        1. Recognize and compare how different parts of the world have varying amounts and types of natural resources and how the use of those resources             impacts environmental quality. (6th)
        1. Recognize and explain the impact of a changing human population on the use of natural resources and on environmental quality. (7th)

  B. Environmental Issues (6th,7th,8th)
        1. Recognize and explain that human-caused changes have consequences for Maryland's environment as well as for other places and future times.                 (6th)
        1. Recognize and describe that environmental changes can have local, regional, and global consequences. (7th)
        1. Recognize and explain how human activities can accelerate or magnify many naturally occurring changes. (8th)

Recommended:

Based on the objectives covered and the difficulty of this project, this project would be most appropriate for a 6th grade math or science classroom.  The computational and statistical skills that are necessary are very basic in comparison to the middle school curriculum.  Students in the 6th grade already have the skills needed to complete this project upon entering middle school.  Therefore, this project could be done at any time during the year as a class activity or during academic enrichment time during the year.