1. Science Lead Teachers’ Meeting
October 26, 2011

2. Rain Barrels What is a rain barrel?
A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from a
roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm
drains and streams.
Components of a rain barrel
Usually a rain barrel is composed of a 55 gallon drum, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, a screen grate to keep debris and insects out, and other off-the-shelf items,

3. Why rain barrels? Store water away for an un-rainy day.
Up to 40% of summer water use is irrigation. Reduce your household water needs by saving rain.
Recycling water reduces your personal energy consumption by using less treated water.
Reduce erosion and increase water quality.
Water gardens naturally with untreated, air-temperature, non-chlorinated water.
A rain barrel is an easy way to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use, FREE.

4. Creating Rain barrel Art

5. Rain barrel art

6. Decorating the Rain Barrels
Each elementary school will receive 1 rain barrel.
Decorate the barrels by March for city contest.
Decorated barrels will be displayed by the city for Earth Day. Some
will be displayed for the Science Fair.
Schools can receive their barrels back to use in their gardens. Some
barrels will be given to elderly people.

7. Science Fair Projects

8. Scientific Method
The scientific method is the process of collecting data through observation and experimentation, then formulating and testing a hypotheses.

9. The six steps of the scientific method are:
•Problem / Title •Hypothesis •Materials •Procedures •Results •Conclusion

10. Independent Variable Something that is changed by the scientist
What is tested
What is manipulated

11. Dependent Variable
Something that might be affected by the change in the
independent variable
What is observed
What is measured
The data collected during the investigation

12. Constants A variable that is not changed Also called constants
Allow for a “fair test”

13. For Example:

14. Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.

15. Identify the Variables in this Investigation.
Identify the Variables in this Investigation

16. What is the independent Variable
Ages of the students
Different ages were tested by the scientist

17. What is the dependent variable?
The time it to put the puzzle together
The time was observed and measured by the scientist

18. Same puzzle
All of the participants were tested with the same puzzle.
It would not have been a fair test if some had an easy 30 piece puzzle and some had a harder 500 piece puzzle.

19. Another Example

20. An investigation was done with an electromagnetic system made from a battery and wire wrapped around a nail. Different sizes of nails were used. The number of Paper clips the electromagnet could pick up was measured

21. Independent Variable Sizes of nails
Dependent Variable - Number of paper clips picked up
Constants - Battery, wire, type of nail

22. One More

23. The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will boil.

24. Independent variable – temperature of water
Dependent variable – time to cook an egg
Controlled variable – type of egg