Preschool Water Filtration Activity

Has your preschooler ever asked you if he can drink out of a river or stream or maybe even the bathtub? Here's a filtration activity that will help teach your preschooler about drinking water. This activity will increase your preschooler's awareness of the role of different water sources and give them an idea of the process that water must go through to be clean enough to drink.

What You Will Need:

At least 8 glass jars or clear containers (drinking glasses will work)

At least 4 Coffee filters

Cotton balls

Rubber bands

Maker and tape to label containers

What to Do

Step One - Water Collection

To demonstrate the differences between different water sources, gather a few samples of water from all available sources. Take a jar or other clear container to any water body that is close enough for you to sample (a stream, lake, river, ditch, ocean, etc.) Your preschooler can help you with this task by both helping you identify the local water sources and by helping gathering the sample. Fill your containers with about two cups or more of water from each source. Fill one jar with tap water. Also, if possible, place a container outside to collect rain water. Make sure each of your containers is labeled with the type and location of your sample, e.g., rain water from backyard.

Step Two - Observation and Hypothesis

Once you have gathered all of your samples, you are ready to begin your observations. Line the jars up next to each other. Ask your preschooler the following questions: Which sample is the clearest? Which sample is the dirtiest? Which one do you think you could drink?

Step Three - Filtration

Gather the same number of clear containers as you have samples. Put a coffee filter inside the jar or glass and affix it to the glass with rubber band. Then put three cotton balls in the coffee filter. Take each sample and pour it slowly through the cotton balls and filter into a container. Make sure the container with the filter is labeled with the corresponding sample that is poured into it. As the water trickles into the glass observe what is happening.

Once you have filtered all of your samples, line the samples up and again observe, which one is the clearest? Which one is the dirtiest? What do you see on top of the cotton balls in the filter? Although this water is still too dirty to drink your preschooler will have a better idea of what water must go through in order for humans to drink it.

Variations

In many cases drinking water comes from a major local water body. If you know what that water body is and have access to it, try to get a sample of that water. Identify this sample to your preschooler as the water that is processed for you to drink. Once filtered, does the water look clean enough to drink?

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