Preliminary Senior Science

Notice of Assessment

Open-ended Investigation

Task:1

Weighting: 25% (5% knowledge and understanding, 15% 1st hand investigation, 5% problem solving)

Topic: Water for Living

Date Due: 27th March (Monday week 10)

Outcomes Assessed: 2,4,6,11-15 (see assessment booklet)

Task Description:

Part A: Students are to design and perform a 1st hand investigation to determine their household water use over 1 week.

Part B: Students are to complete a report outlining their method, results and a discussion where students are to analyse their household’s use of water by answering the following questions.

  1. Construct a graph that shows the percentage of total water use spent on each household task.
  2. What are the areas that your household uses the most water?
  3. Discuss three ways your household could reduce their water consumption. These should be practical suggestions.
  4. Compare the water meter reading to your own calculations and suggests reasons for any differences. (If you are unable to see the water meter then just discuss potential areas of inaccuracy)

A good answer will include:

  • a clear method where the steps taken are easy to follow and could be repeated.
  • Results summarised in a logical and readable form
  • Answers that reflect a student’s understanding of their results and the implication of their results
  • Practical suggestions for water saving techniques.

A logbook has been provided to help you get started but it is your choice whether you use it.

Name ______

Household Water Use Log book

Starting Date: ______Finishing Date ______

Water meter reading on starting date ______

finishing date ______

Write your ideas here.

Ways my household uses water


Some example volumes.

Activity / Volume of water per activity
Garden Sprinkler / 1500 L/ hour
Car washing with a hose / 100-300L
Bath / 50-120L
Shower / 160L per 8 minutes
Washing machine / Front loader -23L/kg of dry clothes
Dishwasher / 20-60L per wash
Dishwashing by hand / 12-15L per wash
Toilet (single flush) / 9-11L
Toilet (dual flush) / Half- 4.5-6L
Whole 9-11L
Hand basin / 5 L
Teeth cleaning with tap running / 5 L
Drinking, cooking and household cleaning / 8L per person per day.

Draft Plan:

Teacher Comments:

______

Report

Aim (what is the purpose of your experiment?): (2 marks)

______

Method: (outline the steps you are going to take) (10 marks)

______

______

______

______

Results (Plan ahead- know how you will collect your results and what information you will need to collect): (10 marks)

Analysis:

  1. Construct a graph that shows the percentage of total water use spent on each household task. (5marks)
  1. What are the areas that your household uses the most water? (2 marks)

______

  1. Discuss three ways your household could reduce their water consumption. These should be practical suggestions.(5 marks)

______

______

  1. Compare the water meter reading to your own calculations and suggests reasons for any differences. (If you are unable to see the water meter then just discuss potential areas of inaccuracy) (6 marks)

______

______

Conclusion (summarise your results) (3 marks)

______

Bibliography (1 mark)

______