Paleo Purifiers Presentation Slides Paleo Purifiers
How Nature Cleans Dinosaur Pee
"Thirsty? How about a cold glass of dinosaur pee?"
The Mystery:
Water has been on Earth for millions of years. It never leaves!
?
If water is just recycled, why doesn't it stay dirty or salty?
?
How does nature turn 'gross' water into fresh rain?
Dinosaur Pee? | Crash Course Kids
Embedded media
Watch closely: How does the water leave the minerals behind?
Earth is a Closed System
Hydrosphere
All the water
Biosphere
Living things
Geosphere
Rocks & Land
Atmosphere
Air & Clouds
"Matter is not created or destroyed. It just changes state and cycles through these spheres!"
MAIN ACTIVITY
The Solar Still Lab
1
Mix "Dirty Water" (Salt + Food Color) in a large bowl.
2
Place an empty small cup in the center.
3
Cover with plastic wrap and weight with a coin.
4
Wait for the sun to work its magic!
LAB DIAGRAM
Natural Distillation
Evaporation
Sun heats the water. Liquid turns to gas (vapor), leaving the "yuck" behind.
Condensation
Vapor cools on the plastic wrap, turning back into pure liquid drops.
Precipitation
Clean water drips into the cup. Nature's filter is complete!
Think-Pair-Share
"In our experiment, why didn't the food coloring or the salt end up in the small cup?"
How is this exactly like what happens in nature?
Talk to a partner
Share with the class
Paleo Purifiers Teacher Guide Paleo Purifiers
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade 4-5 Science
40-45 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will demonstrate and explain how the water cycle naturally purifies water through distillation (evaporation and condensation) by creating a working solar still.
Lab Materials (Per Group)
Large clear bowl
Small dry cup
Plastic wrap
Heavy coin (weight)
Salt & Food coloring
Pitcher of water
Vocabulary
Closed System
Matter stays inside; only energy moves in/out.
Distillation
Purifying a liquid by heating and cooling it.
Evaporation
Liquid water turning into gas (vapor).
Condensation
Water vapor cooling and turning into liquid.
Lesson Pacing
5 MIN
The Hook: "Dinosaur Pee"
Present the glass of water with yellow food coloring and salt. Tell students: "This is Brachiosaurus pee from 150 million years ago." Ask how we can get clean water from it. This establishes the 'yuck' factor that makes the purification lesson memorable.
5 MIN
Video Viewing
Watch Crash Course Kids #24.2 (4:00-4:37). Focus on the explanation of how water leaves impurities behind. Ask: "If water particles have been around since the dinosaurs, why isn't our rain yellow?"
25 MIN
Main Activity: Solar Still Lab
Groups mix 1 inch of water with plenty of salt and 2-3 drops of food coloring.
Place the small cup in the center (ensure no water splashes inside).
Seal tightly with plastic wrap; place the coin directly above the center cup to create a 'funnel' shape.
Place in a sunlit window or under a strong desk lamp.
Teacher Tip: If doing this in one class period, use hot water to speed up evaporation, though cold water is a better simulation of nature.
5 MIN
Closure & Discussion
Revisit the hook. Discuss why the salt and color stayed in the big bowl. Connect the plastic wrap to the "Atmosphere" and the sun to the energy source for the cycle.
Common Misconceptions
"New water comes from the sky."
Clarify that clouds are made of recycled water particles, not "new" matter created in the air.
"The salt evaporates with the water."
Emphasize that only water particles turn into gas. Minerals and pollutants are too heavy and stay behind.
Dino Distiller Lab Worksheet Dino Distiller Lab
Can we clean the dinosaur pee?
Name:
Date:
THE CHALLENGE
We are trapped in a "closed system" with salty, yellow water. Our mission is to use solar energy (the sun) to separate the clean water from the impurities.
My Prediction (Hypothesis):
I think the water in the small cup will look ________________________________ because...
1. Lab Setup Sketch
Draw your setup here
Label: Bowl, Small Cup, Plastic Wrap, Dirty Water, Coin.
2. Observation Log
What do you see after 20 minutes?
Look at the plastic wrap and the bottom of the coin. What's forming?
LAB RESULTS
The Water in the LARGE BOWL is:
Still salty and yellow
Clean and clear
Gone completely
The Water in the SMALL CUP is:
Still salty and yellow
Clean and clear
Gone completely
Big Idea Reflection
Why didn't the yellow "pee" particles travel up to the plastic wrap?
The Water Cycle: A Deep Time Journey
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Dino Distiller Lab Answer Key Answer Key
Dino Distiller Lab Worksheet
Teacher Resource
My Prediction (Hypothesis)
"I think the water in the small cup will look clean and clear because the sun will only evaporate the water, leaving the color and salt in the bowl."
1. Lab Setup Sketch (Look-fors)
Bowl containing yellow water.
Empty cup in the middle.
Plastic wrap tightly sealed.
Coin placed over the cup area.
2. Observation Log (Look-fors)
Mist or fog (vapor) on the wrap.
Clear water droplets hanging.
Droplets dripping toward the center.
Lab Results Key
The Water in the LARGE BOWL is:
Still salty and yellow
The Water in the SMALL CUP is:
Still salty and yellow
Clean and clear
Reflection Question Key
Why didn't the yellow "pee" particles travel up to the plastic wrap?
The yellow food coloring and salt are minerals and impurities that are "heavier" than water particles. When the sun heats the liquid, only the pure water particles turn into gas (water vapor). The impurities stay behind because they do not evaporate at the same temperature as water. This process is called distillation.
Mastery Check
Students should correctly identify the clean water in the small cup and the dirty water in the bowl. Drawings should show the change from liquid to gas and back to liquid.
"Look Fors"
Ensure students use terms like Evaporation and Condensation in their reflection to show they understand the phase changes occurring.
