For the last week of the year 5/6 STEM Club, we were investigating hard and soft water. We looked at a map of the UK and ascertained that the water in the East Riding area is predominantly hard water. We discussed the problems that this can have for the environment, for industry and even in our own homes. We decided that we would check different water sources within school to verify if the water was indeed hard. We also wanted to collect a sample from the pond in our wildlife garden in order to compare a natural source of water with water supplies within school. We used proprietary testing strips to check water from the classroom taps, staffroom sink tap, taps in the pupil toilets and even Mrs Altoft’s aquarium in class 4! We then ventured outside to check the pond. The pupils enjoyed taking their samples and the test strips did verify that we live in a hard water area. The pupils recorded their results in a table showing that they could apply skills learnt in the classroom. We thought that it might be quite fun to send test strips to relatives in other areas of the country where the map showed us that the water should be soft. After Christmas we will be sending strips to Whitby in North Yorkshire, Basingstoke in Hampshire and Ayton in Berwickshire to see what we can find out.
