Brita

Abstract: This student activity sheet is designed to guide students through the mathematical modeling process as they investigate the impact of plastic water bottles on the environment. Students must formulate questions and assumptions, compute answers, interpret in the context of the problem and then validate their model by assessing the reasonableness and other elements that might also factor into the problem. Through the investigation of plastic water bottles, the activity presents students with a real life problem and the opportunity to practice critical thinking, unit conversions, measurement, basic geometry, and basic arithmetical computations.