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Water Management in Several Types of Soil – A Hands-On Science Experiment for Students

2022; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-030-93907-6_102

2367-3370

Amélia Caldeira, Sofia O. Lopes, Teresa Malheiro, Rui M. S. Pereira, A. Manuela Gonçalves, Nuno Miguel Faria Araújo, Paulo A. Pereira,

Mathematics Education and Programs

Young people should become aware of the fact that water is an important but rare resource and learn how to manage it efficiently. We present a project with some experiments for young students with that goal in mind. Students classified different types of soil and measured their electrical conductivity over time after being watered. They had to compare mathematical models that model soil behaviour in these circumstances based in the collected data. These experiments are also a good approach to show students how mathematics is useful and applies to real-life problems. In this work, we combine mathematical knowledge with technology and engineering subjects. The students witnessed the applicability of mathematics in engineering projects. They should be able to reason mathematically and use mathematical concepts, procedures, facts and tools to describe, explain and predict phenomena. Water conservation and management combined with mathematics learning is a perfect match, students were able to apply the mathematics they learned in the classroom and see its application in the real world, bridging any deficiencies they may have.