Materials List:
The Great Algae Race
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/usf_biorecycling_lesson01_activity2
Each group needs:
- 3 500-ml clear water bottles
- 0.5 meters of thin tubing, such as fish tank aeration tubing, which is reusable and can be used for a number of other activities; such as aquarium airline tubing with 0.165-inch inner diameter and 0.225-inch outer diameter, available in various lengths from https://www.petmountain.com/product/lees-airline-tubing-for-aquariums
- 1 aeration pump for an aquarium, such as the Tetra Whisper Air Pump for $6-$20 each at https://www.petmountain.com/product/tetra-whisper-aquarium-air-pump-non-ul
- 1 aeration stone, such as Penn Plax Aqua Mist Airstone Cylinders, 7/16-inch cylinder, 4-pack for $3 at https://www.petmountain.com/product/penn-plax-aqua-mist-airstone-cylinder
- Energy from Algae?! Worksheet, one per student
- 1 color scale; cut from the color-printed Algae Color Identification Scale (nine scales per sheet)
- The Great Algae Race Data Sheet, one per group
To share with the entire class:
- (optional) computer with Internet access and projector to show students a short online video
- pond water, collected from a local pond, lake or river
- large bottle(s) for collecting pond water; enough for 200 ml per group
- bucket of tap water that has been left sitting out at room temperature for 24 hours (to help the chlorine dissipate); need at least 1.27 liters per group
- graduated cylinder
- coffee filter, to filter the pond water
- large Mason jar(s) or other soda or water bottles, to hold the filtered pond water
- liquid plant fertilizer, any type
- spoon
- permanent markers, for marking plastic bottles
- graph paper, colored pencils/markers, for plotting graphs
- bleach, a small amount to add to the photobioreactor bottle contents (algae) before disposal