Pure Drop Fact Sheet
GRADE 5 SCIENCE • FIELD HYDROLOGY
Name: _______________________ Date: ____________
Pure Drop Fact Sheet
How nature, scientists, and simple layers turn muddy water clear
What Is Water Filtration?
Water filtration is the process of passing dirty water through different materials to trap unwanted bits like mud, leaves, sand, and tiny specks. Think of a filter like a super-fine strainer: clean water slips through the tiny spaces, while solid pieces get left behind!
Did You Know?
Even though 71% of Earth is covered in water, less than 1% is fresh water we can easily reach and clean!
The 4 Filter Layers (Top to Bottom)
Big traps first, tiny traps last!
1
Gravel & Pebbles (Top Layer)
Big rocks leave large gaps that catch twigs, leaves, insects, and large clumps of dirt right away.
Blocks Large Bits
2
Fine Sand (Second Layer)
Sand grains pack tightly together, trapping smaller particles like silt, grit, and cloudy mud.
Blocks Fine Grit
3
Activated Charcoal (Third Layer)
Special porous carbon with millions of tiny holes that grab invisible chemicals, bad smells, and odd tastes.
Traps Odors
4
Cotton or Coffee Filter (Bottom Layer)
Holds all the layers in place and catches any leftover charcoal dust or microscopic specks.
Final Polish
Nature’s Giant Filter
Rainwater soaking into the ground travels through soil, sand, and cracked rock. By the time it reaches underground aquifers, it is naturally filtered!
Ancient Science
Over 4,000 years ago, people in ancient India and Egypt wrote about cleaning river water using sand, gravel, and heated charcoal.
Wetland Sponges
Marshes and swamps act like giant living filters. Plant roots slow down fast water and trap muddy pollution before it reaches lakes and oceans.
Clear Water Isn’t Always Safe to Drink!
A homemade sand-and-charcoal filter removes dirt and cloudiness, but microscopic bacteria and viruses are too tiny to get trapped. Real water treatment plants also use disinfection (like UV light, boiling, or safe amounts of chlorine) to kill invisible germs. Never drink water from a classroom filter!
Hands-On Lab: Build a Bottle Filter
With Teacher or Adult
Materials: Clear plastic bottle (cut in half), coffee filter or cotton balls, crushed activated charcoal, clean sand, small pebbles, and a cup of muddy water.
Step 1 • Set Up the Funnel
Turn the top half of the bottle upside down like a funnel and place it inside the bottom half.
Step 2 • Pack the Layers
Put the coffee filter at the neck, then add charcoal, then sand, and finally pebbles on top.
Step 3 • Pour Slowly
Gently pour muddy water over the pebbles so you do not disturb the sand layer below.
Step 4 • Compare & Record
Watch the drops collect below. Compare the color and clarity before and after filtering!
Lab Observation Notes
Water BEFORE Filtering (color, bits, smell):
Water AFTER Filtering (color, clarity, speed):
Hydrology Word Bank
Sediment
Solid bits of dirt, sand, clay, or rock that float in water or settle at the bottom.
Porous
Full of tiny holes or spaces that let liquids or air pass through, like a sponge or sand.
Contaminant
Any unwanted substance—like mud, chemicals, or germs—that makes water dirty or unsafe.
Purify
To remove harmful dirt, chemicals, and germs so water becomes clean and safe to use.
