Harvesting Rainwater is the implementation of our STEM lesson plan prepared for the Step by Step STEM etwinning project. Our project aims to increase our students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and to ensure the integration of STEM disciplines. My students are 10 years old. Trends Project-Based Learning STEM Learning Peer Learning Cooperative Learning 21st-century skills and Creativity / Design Thinking / Inquiry-Based Science Education Collaboration Creativity Digital skills The starting point of our project is water pollution and correct use of water, which are among the environmental problems we encounter in daily life. It is aimed not to experience water shortage and to leave clean water to future generations. Students watched "25 litres" documantary with their families.
Discussions were made about what would happen if we were dehydrated, and what could be done to protect the water. my students were caught between using rainwater and gray water. As a result of the voting, they decided to work the rainwater.They investigated rainwater systems. They made drawings with the tinkercad to install a rainwater harvesting system.
The tanks needed volume calculations for their drawings. We learned to calculate the volumes of geometric bodies.
Engineering was required to find out which machines could be used for material selection and water treatment. What is engineering and what engineering fields are there? We learned this from engineers in a webinar.
Students made their own designs using waste materials and products they could find in the home.
The models made were evaluated one by one online. The strengths and weaknesses of the designs were discussed.
At the end of the study, the evaluation was completed with a quizizz with the students.
The video is the author’s own– (Attribution CC-BY)
About the author: Selda Topal – Secondary school teacher |Dumlupınar BİLSEM Afyonkarahisar/Turkey
Congratulations!
Very interesting lessons, an example to follow with my students.