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Created byMelissa Singh
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Water Costs and Conservation: Math Analysis

Grade 6Math3 days
This Project-Based Learning experience, designed for 6th-grade math students, focuses on analyzing unit rates and water costs to guide financially responsible water use and conservation. Students evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bottled, tap, and purified water, explore water purification methods, and assess the financial impact of water conservation on households. Through hands-on activities like debates, virtual tours, and filtering challenges, alongside investigative and analytical portfolio tasks, students develop critical thinking and data analysis skills, resulting in informed recommendations on water usage. The project aligns with math standards including unit rate calculations, ratio reasoning, and data summarization.
Unit RatesWater ConservationCost-EffectivenessPurification MethodsFinancial AnalysisMath StandardsData Analysis
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can analyzing unit rates and understanding purification methods guide us in making financially responsible decisions about water use and conservation in our daily lives?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What factors contribute to the cost of water use for a household?
  • How can we calculate and compare the cost-effectiveness of bottled water, tap water, and purified water?
  • What are the different methods of water purification, and what are their costs?
  • How do unit rates help determine the best value between different water sources?
  • How does water conservation benefit a household financially?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will learn to calculate unit rates for various goods and services, specifically focusing on water usage.
  • Students will identify and compare different water sources such as bottled water, tap water, and purified water based on cost-effectiveness.
  • Students will explore different methods of water purification and understand the financial implications.
  • Students will analyze the cost and benefits of water conservation from a financial perspective.
  • Students will make informed, financially responsible decisions about water use based on data analysis.

Provided Standard

F1.5
Primary
Calculate unit rates for various goods and services, and identify which rates offer the best value.Reason: The project involves calculating unit rates for different water sources, aligning well with the standard on determining the best value for goods and services.

Common Core Standards

6.RP.3
Primary
Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.Reason: The project requires students to understand and manipulate unit rates, which involves converting and comparing different measurement units.
6.NS.3
Secondary
Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.Reason: Students will need to perform calculations involving costs and unit rates, which requires fluency with multi-digit decimals.
6.SP.5
Supporting
Summarize and describe distributions.Reason: Analyzing and summarizing data about water usage and costs to make informed decisions involves summarizing and describing distributions.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Great Water Debate

Set up a debate where students are divided into teams to argue the pros and cons of bottled water versus tap water. This will immediately engage students with the issue, encouraging them to research costs, environmental impacts, and health considerations.

Virtual Water Use Tour

Provide students with a virtual reality experience of different stages in the water purification process and the journey of water from source to tap. Students will explore the complexity and costs associated with each stage, sparking curiosity about water management.

DIY Water Filter Challenge

Engage students in a hands-on project to build their own water filters using everyday materials. This activity highlights the importance and cost of water purification while promoting problem-solving and creativity.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Unit Rate Investigator

Students will calculate the unit rates for different water sources: bottled water, tap water, and purified water. They will explore which option offers the best value through comparing their findings.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce the concept of unit rates and provide examples related to everyday goods.
2. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different type of water source to research: bottled, tap, or purified.
3. Guide students to gather price information and packaging details for their assigned water type.
4. Have students calculate the unit rate (cost per liter or gallon) for their water type.
5. Encourage groups to compare their findings and discuss which water type offers the best value based on unit rate calculations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comparison chart of unit rates for different water types highlighting the best value choice.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with F1.5 (calculate unit rates) and 6.RP.3 (use ratio reasoning to convert units).
Activity 2

Water Use Budget Analyst

Students will create a budget analysis of a typical household's water usage, demonstrating how conservation can lead to financial savings.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce students to the concept of budgeting and how it applies to household water use.
2. Provide sample household water usage data for students to analyze.
3. Have students identify areas where water consumption can be reduced and calculate potential savings.
4. Guide students to prepare a report detailing their findings on water use reduction strategies and associated financial benefits.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed budget analysis report showing water consumption, reduction strategies, and financial benefits of conservation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with F1.5 (identify best value) and supports goal to make financially responsible decisions.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Water Use and Conservation Analysis

Category 1

Understanding of Unit Rates

Evaluates the student's ability to calculate and utilize unit rates effectively.
Criterion 1

Unit Rate Calculation

Accuracy and thoroughness in calculating unit rates for different water sources.

Exemplary
4 Points

Calculates unit rates for all water types accurately and thoroughly, using appropriate mathematical procedures with no errors.

Proficient
3 Points

Calculates unit rates for all water types accurately with minor errors, demonstrating a solid understanding of mathematical procedures.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts to calculate unit rates with some accuracy, but includes noticeable errors and demonstrates a partial understanding of the procedures.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with calculating unit rates, showing limited understanding and multiple errors.

Criterion 2

Comparison and Value Analysis

Ability to compare unit rates and determine best value for water sources.

Exemplary
4 Points

Critically compares unit rates of various water sources and provides a well-supported analysis determining the best value.

Proficient
3 Points

Compares unit rates effectively and determines best value with some supporting analysis.

Developing
2 Points

Makes simple comparisons with minimal analysis to determine value.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to compare unit rates, offers little analysis or support in determining value.

Category 2

Application in Real-life Contexts

Assesses how well students apply mathematical concepts to real-life water conservation scenarios.
Criterion 1

Budgeting and Financial Analysis

Creation of a comprehensive and accurate budget analysis based on household water usage and conservation strategies.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents a highly detailed and accurate budget analysis, clearly outlining conservation strategies and financial implications.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a thorough budget analysis with clear connections to conservation strategies and their financial impact.

Developing
2 Points

Presents a basic budget analysis with limited detail on conservation strategies and financial implications.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to create a coherent budget analysis with unclear or unsupported conservation strategies.

Criterion 2

Integration of Conservation Strategies

Ability to propose and evaluate effective water conservation strategies.

Exemplary
4 Points

Proposes innovative and effective water conservation strategies, with clear evaluation of their effectiveness and impact.

Proficient
3 Points

Proposes clear water conservation strategies with evaluation of their effectiveness.

Developing
2 Points

Suggests basic conservation strategies with limited evaluation or clarity.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to propose coherent conservation strategies, with minimal evaluation.

Category 3

Data Analysis and Evidence

Evaluates the ability to analyze data and use it effectively to support findings.
Criterion 1

Data Collection and Analysis

Effectiveness in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data for water costs and conservation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Collects comprehensive data and performs insightful analysis connecting water costs with conservation efforts.

Proficient
3 Points

Gathers and analyzes relevant data effectively, making clear connections to water costs and conservation.

Developing
2 Points

Collects and analyzes data with limited depth and connections to conservation efforts.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows difficulty in data collection and analysis, with limited relevance to water costs or conservation efforts.

Criterion 2

Evidence-based Conclusions

Ability to draw well-supported conclusions based on data analysis.

Exemplary
4 Points

Draws insightful, well-supported conclusions from data, demonstrating a deep understanding of water value and conservation.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops well-supported conclusions, showing clear understanding of data implications.

Developing
2 Points

Presents conclusions with some supporting evidence but limited depth.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to develop conclusions from data, with minimal evidence or insight.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how understanding unit rates has changed your perspective on the cost-effectiveness of different water sources.

Text
Required
Question 2

How confident are you in using unit rates to determine the best value among different options?

Scale
Required
Question 3

What are the most significant factors contributing to the cost of water usage in households that you've learned about?

Multiple choice
Optional
Options
Unit rates of water source
Household consumption patterns
Costs of water purification
Environmental policies and regulations
Question 4

Describe the financial benefits your household could gain from implementing water conservation strategies.

Text
Required