Water Filtration Kit

Explore how clean water is made with the Home Science Tools Water Filtration Kit. Through hands-on experiments, students build and test their own filtration systems while discovering how water is cleaned in the real world.

Starting with simple sedimentation and physical filtration, learners gradually explore more advanced methods, including chemical treatment, biological processes, and modern membrane filtration. Along the way, they'll observe results, analyze data, and improve their designs—just like real scientists and engineers.

Each NGSS-aligned activity strengthens critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific reasoning while connecting Earth science concepts to real-world water challenges. The kit culminates in an open-ended project where students design their own solution for cleaner water.

• Beaker
• Bottles
• Charcoal powder
• Cheesecloth
• Cotton balls
• Cups
• Filter
• Food coloring
• Gloves
• Petri dishes
• pH papers
• Rubber bands
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Scoop
• Stopwatch
• Stirring rod
• Substrate samples
• Teabag
• Test strips

Learn how the world cleans water - by doing it yourself!

Discover how clean water is made by building your own filtration system.

Clean water is essential to everyday life, and in this kit, students learn how it's made through hands-on exploration. Instead of just reading about water purification, they build, test, and improve working filtration systems using the same principles found in nature, chemistry labs, and modern treatment methods.

This multi-lab kit guides learners step by step, beginning with simple sedimentation and progressing to more advanced filtration techniques, including membrane-based systems and student-designed solutions. Along the way, they explore physical, chemical, and biological methods of water purification while strengthening observation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.

What students will do: 

Across eight hands-on labs and a culminating research project, students will:

• Observe how particle size affects settling and turbidity

• Compare filter materials and flow rates

• Build a layered filtration system from raw materials

• Use activated charcoal to remove dissolved contaminants

• Explore plant-based bioremediation

• Purify water through evaporation and condensation

• Model reverse osmosis using selective membranes

• Design and defend a real-world water treatment solution

Each activity builds on the last, reinforcing vocabulary, data collection, and systems thinking.

• NGSS science standards alignment
  • HS-ESS2-5: Plan and investigate the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.  
  • HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.