Anchored Science by Mi-STAR is a comprehensive middle school science curriculum driven by a bold vision for the future, where science isn’t just a subject but a powerful, integrated body of knowledge that equips students to tackle today’s pressing societal challenges. This curriculum harnesses the full potential of the Next Generation Science Standards, empowering students to actively engage with science and engineering practices. They’ll move beyond the classroom, using their skills to solve real-world problems, making learning both impactful and deeply relevant to their lives and the world around them.
Each unit delivers a NGSS-aligned assessment package that fully integrates tools to measure student progress and deepen their engagement with science. The Professional Learning program provides a dynamic range of flexible, ongoing opportunities, enabling teachers to not only master the unit content but also continually enhance their skills, while motivating and challenging their students.
Unit 7.5: Protecting Our Drinking Water Resources "What's In YOUR Water?"
Unit Challenge Question: How can we protect our drinking water resources?
In this unit, students dive into the details of their local Water Quality Report to understand where their drinking water comes from, the types of contaminants that may be present in drinking water, and how we can reduce or prevent damage to their drinking water resources.
Students create system models of drinking water systems and of how contaminants can enter the drinking water system. They also make a claim, supported with evidence and scientific reasoning, about why we need to take care of Earth’s water resources. Students apply their learning to the Unit Challenge by creating a presentation for their school that communicates their findings about drinking water, potential risks, and possible solutions that the school’s students can implement. Students will continually apply their knowledge of the water cycle to help explain how drinking water systems work and the threats to them. They also apply their knowledge of atoms and molecules to better understand the types of contaminants that can be present in drinking water.
Included with this purchase is a printed Teacher Edition and a 3 year license to access the Teacher Edition eBook and digital resources through our online platform, Flourish.
Lesson 1 Our Drinking Water Resources
Lesson 2 Drinking Water Sources
Lesson 3 Demand & Supply
Lesson 4 What's in the Water?
Lesson 5 Contaminant Sources
Lesson 6 Water Treatment
Lesson 7 Get Involved!
Lesson 8 Culminating Experience
Career Connection
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Originally founded in 1885 as a Mining School, Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) is historically known for its presence in engineering research and technology development. Over the years, the university has expanded its offerings to more than 160 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related fields. It is one of the leading public research universities in the country.
Mi-STAR was created in 2015 by teams of teachers, scientists, engineers, and curriculum designers through generous support provided by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. Mi-STAR has also received substantial support from the National Science Foundation, the MiSTEM Advisory Council through the Michigan Department of Education, and Michigan Technological University.