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Home » Early Years Science » Homemade Water Filter Experiment

Homemade Water Filter Experiment

Modified: Aug 6, 2024 · Published: Jul 6, 2019 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

Today we are looking at filtering and how it can be used to clean dirty water. This water filter science project is very simplified but gives kids a great overview of how water purification is carried out to give us lovely clean drinking water.

Do not drink the water in the activity

Homemade Water Filter Science Project - Filtering water science experiment for kids #scienceforkids #waterfilter #waterexperiments
Filtering Water

Water Filter Science Project

Filtering Water – What you need

Dirty water ( or mud and clean water )

Funnels

Coffee filter/paper towel/muslin

Sand

Stones

An empty bottle or other containers

Filtering Water Experiment

The great thing about this experiment is that you can design it however you like.

We set up coffee filters containing sand, stones and then just plain filters.

Sand filter - filtering experiment for kids
Sand Filter
Stone filter - filtering experiment for kids - water filter science project
Stone Filter
Coffee filters for filtering water

We carefully poured the same amount of water through each filter and observed the results.

Water Filtering - sand filter for a water filter science project
Water filtering - stone filter
Stone filter
water filtering - coffee filter

More ideas to try – Water Filter Science Project

Set up an experiment where the conditions are:

1 coffee filter

2 coffee filters

3 coffee filters

Is kitchen roll better than a coffee filter, would just a sieve work?

You could also work in stages, so try a colander, then a sieve and then a paper towel. Each stage should trap smaller and smaller particles.

How do filters work?

A filter is a porous material which a liquid can be passed though to separate the liquid from solids suspended in it.

More Filtering Investigations

Make a toy filter.

Try filtering potions using a sieve and colander.

Can you filter water using sand and stones?

Filtering

More Science for Kids

I’ve got a fun collection of water science experiments, including a water cycle activity, dissolving experiment, ice investigation and density trick!

Try one of our easy science experiments for kids to do at home! We’ve got egg experiments, ice experiments, paper helicopters, STEM challenges and lots more science fun for kids of all ages!

Easy science experiments you can do at home

Suitable for Key stage 2 Science

Properties and Changes of Materials

Use knowledge of solids, liquids and gases to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating.

DIY Filter

Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christina @ Play Eat Grow

    May 15, 2012 at 11:49 pm

    This is such a neat experiment. I bet it would be fun to let the kids think of better ways to filter the water. It will definitely give them a better appreciation for our clean water!

    Reply
  2. Liz Hallberg

    May 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    So simple, and yet so fun! A very good way to learn about filters and clean water. We will definitely have to try this one, thanks 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ticia

    May 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    We did that once too and it’s amazing how much gets filtered out and how gross that water still is. I think yours was more easily visble, we have very clay like dirt, so it didn’t quite dissolve right.
    Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!

    Reply

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