Water on the Moon – Filtering lunar ice cores to extract water

Brief description:

In this resource, pupils will spend a day recording approximately how much water they use for different activities.

This is followed by an experimental activity in the classroom, where they will use pre-prepared “lunar ice cores” and filter these to get water.

They will use the results of the first and second activity to calculate how much lunar ice they would need to dig or drill to give them enough water for one day.

The resource suggests discussions of water use and recycling, both on Earth and in space.

Subject: Mathematics, Science

Learning Objectives

Calculate how much water a person uses in an average day.

Learn that some permanently shadowed regions of the Moon contain water ice.

Estimate how much lunar soil they would need to extract the water needed for one person for an average day.

Understand that a filtration system can be used to separate solids and liquids.

Work scientifically: setting up practical enquiries, taking systematic measurements and recording data.

Solve problems using addition, multiplication, division; measurements and unit conversions.

Age range:

8-12 years old

Time

Preparation: 45 minutes

Lesson: 2 hours in total – divided into at least two parts

Resource available in:

English, Danish, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Swedish and Romanian

Activity 1: How much water do you use every day?

In this activity, pupils will use a table to record the number of times they complete a task that requires the use of water, including activities such as using the dishwasher or cooking that also take place in their home. In the classroom they will then calculate the total water they have used in one day.

Equipment

Student worksheet printed for each pupil.

Pen/pencil

Activity 2: Dirty ice to clean water

Pupils perform an experiment to retrieve water from frozen lunar soil samples and compare it to the amount of water they would need on the Moon.

Equipment

Sand

Student worksheet printed for each group.

Pen/pencil

Ice cube trays

Plastic water bottles / beakers / jam jars

Weighing scales

Filter paper (e.g. for a coffee filter)

Equipment to measure the water volume: measuring cylinder or 5ml spoons

Calculators

Funnels (optional)

Activity 3: Water conservation on the Earth and the Moon

Following activity 1 (and possibly 2), pupils should consider how they could reduce water use on the Earth and on the Moon.

Equipment

Pen / pencil

Paper / card / post-it notes

Student worksheet printed for each pupil

Did you know?

Astronauts on the International Space Station recycle most of the water that they use – about 75%. The Water Recovery System can recover water from astronauts’ urine and from their breath. This is filtered and cleaned and can be used again. One saying they use is “today’s coffee is tomorrow’s coffee”!

Astronauts on the International Space Station use typically one tenth of the water of the people on the Earth. On the Moon astronauts probably would have to use even less water per day!