Melissa Schroeder

Colleen Mudd

Water Wasters

Topic:



estimation, problem
solving, measurement

Grade Level:



4 – 5

Objective:



The students
will be able to estimate and measure the amount of water their
family, and their class waste while they brush their teeth.

Materials:



empty 1/2 gallon
milk jugs, new toothbrushes or ones from home, toothpaste, dishpan

Anticipatroy Set:



Ask
the students how many times they brush their teeth a day and who
else in their family brushes their teeth. Ask the students how
many of them leave the water running when they brush their teeth.
Ask the students how many different ways they could measure the
water they use while brushing their teeth.

Concept and Development:



Before
they brush their teeth have the students estimate how much water
they will use. Have the students brush their teeth and catch the
running water in a dishpan. Then using the half gallon milk jugs
measure out the water. Have the students share what their measurements
were and have them discuss why the measurements vary. After sharing
the data have them find how much water the average person in the
class uses each day while brushing their teeth.

Practice



: Have the students
estimate how much water their entire family uses, then have them
measure how much their family actually uses. Share they data with
the rest of the class the next day.

Assessment



Give the students
example problems and have them use the class data to solve the
problems. Observe the students and ask them how they arrive at
their answers.

Closure:



Ask them ways
they can save water while they brush their teeth. Have the students
discuss what other forms of measurement they could have used.

Source



: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/earth/w
waste.html