Think Outside the Bottle

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by STEMToolkit Administrator

Think Outside the Bottle Challenge

Team Name:  __________________________                        Team Number:

Team Members:    ____________________________    Job:   __________________________

                                                                                                               

Team Jobs

        Challenge Captain

  • Keep the team on task
  • Make sure everyone’s ideas are heard
  • Get everyone to come to a decision.
  •  Record ALL information on the data sheet for the team.
  • See the teacher or contact other teams, if needed.
  • Get involved!  Talk, do AND listen!

Materials Master

  • Gather materials for the team – purchase supplies from head contractor.
  • Make sure supplies and resources are kept tidy and are put away.
  • Make sure project and supplies are stored properly and safely at the end of each class.
  • Get involved!  Talk, do AND listen!
  • Testing Coordinator
  • Coordinate tests needed to check success for the team.
  • Decide when tests of ideas are needed during the challenge.
  • Run the tests on Test Day.
  • Make sure Challenge Captain knows what data to record during Test Day.
  • Get involved!  Talk, do AND listen!

Chief Architect

  • Coordinates building for the team.
  • Decides which ideas to build during the challenge.
  • Suggest to the Testing Coordinator when a test might be needed during a challenge.
  • Make sure the team is building safely at all times and according to the design plans.
  • Get involved!  Talk, do AND listen!

Rapid Reporter / Time Keeper

  •  Share the ideas used by team when presenting to the entire group.
  • Explain the solution the team used to solve the challenge.
  • Explain challenges faced by the team during the challenge.
  • Answer any questions from teacher/classmates about the challenge.
  • Follow the time constraints provided in the challenge.
  • Make sure team is using time wisely.
  • Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!

EVERYONE

  • Should help with cleaning up your workspace.
  • Is a Trouble Shooter.
  • Read instructions.
  • Suggest ways of solving problems.
  • Think of resources the team could use to solve problems.

Think Outside the Bottle Challenge

Requirements, Limits, and Constraints

  • Design and build a Water Filtration System that will yield the purest water out of the supplies available.
  • You have a budget of 150 Credits.  If you go over your budget, your Water Filtration System will be disqualified.
  • Your filter will be tested according to waste-water pH (acidity of the water), and efficiency (how much of your original water remains).
  • A layered design model of your filter must be drawn and approved by the engineering specialists (AKA: teachers) before any supplies are purchased.                
  • Bonus points can be earned at the conclusion of the challenge for each person in your group (up to 4 people) who drinks the cleaned water.

A Note about Filter Options

  • Activated charcoal is used in the removal of organic contaminants in water. Organic contaminants are usually responsible for taste, odor, color, and turbidity (clarity) problems. Activated charcoal will remove chlorine and reduce particulates in the water.
  • Sand and gravel are natural filter materials. Our own groundwater filters through layers of dirt, stone, gravel, and sand. These materials act as a strainer and trap particulates. This is known as mechanical, or physical, filtration.
  • The uncooked macaroni, cotton balls, and coffee filters all serve to trap particulates and they absorb water. Since there is salt in the simulated wastewater, as the filter layers absorb water, ions of sodium are also absorbed. The salt is what makes the wastewater conductive. Thus, the absorption of sodium and chlorine ions could lower the conductivity of the wastewater.
  • As water is absorbed, the food coloring in the simulated wastewater is also absorbed. Therefore, the uncooked macaroni, cotton balls, and coffee filters absorb food coloring and help to change the color/clarity of the filtered wastewater.

Think Outside the Bottle Challenge

Record Sheet

Think Outside the Bottle Budget is 150 Credits

SuppliesCredits (Cost) per ItemQuantity WANT – (Student Record/Tally Here)Quantity USED – (Teacher Record/Tally Here)Total Credits Used per Supply
1 Beaker with 200 mL of wastewaterFree1Free
Empty Beaker for water collectionFree1Free
Funnel – large - each35
Funnel - Small - each25
Bottle – top half30
Coffee Filter - each30
Activated Charcoal – 1/8 cup30
Ammonia Chips – 1/8 cup20
Window Screen – 3”x3” piece20
Dried Lima Beans – 1/8 cup15
Macaroni Noodles – 1/8 cup15
Cheesecloth – piece10
Gravel – 1/8 cup10
Sand – 1/8 cup10
5 Cotton Balls - only in multiples of 510
Total Credits Spent =
Unused Budget is 150 – Total Credits Used =

Think Outside the Bottle Challenge

Scoring Sheet

CriteriaFinal CalculationsPoints Awarded
Unused Budget150 – Total Credits Spent=
pH - A measure of the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution. 7 is neutral+  (plus)=
Efficiency - How much water is left over at the end of the filtration test.+  (plus)=
  TOTAL POINTS= 

Testing Goals

Test                Starting pH                                Results                                                       Points        

pH                                                         for every 0.1 change closer to 7,  Add 10 points

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                

Efficiency                200 mL                                200 mL                                        200

                                                                             199-175 mL                                 100

                                                                             174-150 mL                                  75

                                                                             149-100 mL                                  50

                                                                                99-50 mL                                   25

                                                                                <50 mL                                      0

                                                                                                                

Layered view of Filter:  Be sure to LABEL all materials used.  

Teacher Sign-Off__________________

Reminder:  You may not buy supplies until a teacher has approved your design

Description of Filter:  Be sure to identify amounts of all materials used.


                

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