Test and assess the quality of drinking water as we learn about the water cycle and microplastics.
Mobile Water Lab
For Grades 3-6
- Location: We travel to you!
- Capacity: 30 students
- Duration: 45–60 minutes
- Cost: $280 (travel fees apply outside of Chicago)
- Mobile Labs are offered between 8 a.m. and noon and/or between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Lab goals
Students dive into the science of drinking water to better understand water quality through the water cycle and humans’ impact on this natural resource. Students will also be introduced to a new metric for assessing water quality: microplastics.
Student outcomes
- Increase their understanding of humanity’s place and impact on the water cycle
- Understand the connection between water quality and health
- Increase their understanding of the importance of water quality in our drinking water
- Increase their understanding of the components of water quality
- Get an introduction to the science of water quality and how to test for it
- Recognize microplastics as an aspect of water quality and a current problem facing the world
Career pathways we will explore
- Water resource specialist
- Water/wastewater engineer
- Laboratory technician
- Environmental scientist
Classroom connections
All of our Learning Labs are designed to integrate curriculum standards and connections into your classroom!
Skyline Scope & Sequence
- 3rd: Environments & Climate
- 4th: Earth’s Features
- 5th: Modeling Matter; Earth Systems
- 6th: Metabolism; Oceans, Atmosphere & Climate; Weather Patterns
Next Generation Science Standards
All of our Learning Labs are designed to integrate curriculum standards and connections into your classroom!
Science and Engineering Practices:
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information
Crosscutting Concepts
- Systems and models (the water cycle)
- Energy and matter: flows, cycles and conservation
- Stability and change
- Cause and effect
Disciplinary Core Ideas
- LS4.D: Information Processing
- ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems
- ESS2.C: The Role of Water in Earth's Surface Processes
- ESS2.D: Weather & Climate
- ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
