Storm Sewer Maze

Storm Sewer Maze

Grade 2 Physical Sciences – Liquids and Solids (LS),
Earth and Space Science- Air and Water in the Environment (AW).

Outcomes:

• LS2.2 Assess results of combining liquids and solids, including technologies based on understanding these interactions.
• AW2.1 Investigate observable physical properties of air and water (in all three states of matter) within their environment.
• AW2.2 Assess the importance of air and water for the health and survival of living things, including self and the environment.

Materials :

• Supplies to make one or more simple water mazes:
• glass or foil pie plate or cake pan (base for the maze)
• Play clay (use thin rolls of the clay stuck on the surface to make the “maze” for water to run).  This maze will be used to represent the storm sewer system and ground runoff, so it needn’t be complicated. The maze should have a starting point and a pool at the end representing a river or lake. 
• Water
• Paint in a colour that contrasts the play clay.
• An overhead projector for visibility of maze, if you choose to make just one maze.
• Can of paint (or a photo of one)
• Motor oil -1 litre container (or a photo of one)

Instructional Procedures

1. Explain to students the basics of plumbing and sewers.  Used water from our houses (like baths and flushing the toilet) goes from the pipes in our houses to water treatment plants where it is purified before being put back where it came from.  Rain water, and any other water that runs onto the street (like the water from washing vehicles, or excess water from watering lawns) either goes into storm drains (in urban areas) or into the soil (in rural areas). Storm drains go to rivers and lakes and the water is not treated or filtered.
2. Show students the water maze and explain that it represents the path that rain water and other liquid run-off follows on its way to rivers and lakes through a storm drain.
3. If working with small groups, have students make their own simple mazes.
4. Add a small amount of water into the start of the maze and tip the maze to run the water to the end.  Explain that when the water is clean, such as when it is rainwater or run-off from our lawns, there is no environmental damage done, although the run-off from our lawns wastes water that has been treated. 
5. Show students the can of paint and the litre of oil.  Ask them if they know what they are used for.  Explain that they are not harmful when used for their intended purpose.  Ask students what we should do with these liquids once we are done with them.  Why would it be a bad idea to pour liquids like these down the drain with our water?
6. Going back to the water maze, pour a small amount of paint into the maze.  Explain that the paint represents another liquid going down the drain with the water.  It could be oil or paint (dumped down storm drains), ice salt (from roads) as well as garbage and other contaminants that are washed down storm drains.  Have the students observe the water and paint as you guide them through the maze by tipping the pan.  Observe what happens to the “contaminant” – does it collect on the sides, end up in the pond at the end? What happens when the paint meets the water?
7. Show the students the one-litre container of oil.  Explain to them that one litre of oil can contaminate 1 million litres of water.  A very small amount can “dirty” a very large amount of water.  If products like oil or paint get into our water, it is dangerous for animals, plants and people (See Teacher Reference Sheet for details).
8. How can we prevent these types of materials from getting into our rivers and lakes?  Instead of pouring them into a drain, oil and paint can and should be recycled.  Paint that is no longer needed or useful can be dropped off at any SARCAN location.  Information on paint and for used oil and filter drop-offs can be found at: www.recyclesaskatchewan.ca.
9. Have students make pamphlets describing the dangers of oil and paint in the water system and how to prevent the contamination. 
10. Or have students participate in www.yellowfishroad.org, a program where students stencil a fish onto storm sewers in their neighbourhoods to teach people that there is a connection between our sewer systems and our waterways and to remind people not to pour toxic liquids like oils, paints or pesticides into storm drains.

Printable PDF version including teacher reference sheet

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