Irrigation Ideas

Focus on how man has moved water from one

place to another

What is Irrigation?What is Irrigation?

• The broadest definition of irrigation is simply the deliberate application of water to soil.

• The ultimate goal of irrigation is to make the land fertile and lush.

• The broadest definition of irrigation is simply the deliberate application of water to soil.

• The ultimate goal of irrigation is to make the land fertile and lush.

IrrigationIrrigation

• Critical throughout history• We often irrigate marginal lands with fragile soils in areas that do not get enough rain

• Water has to travel from the place of origin to the place of use

• We have to control the water’s flow- too much water …too fast is not good

• Need to balance water needs of plants with the potential for runoff and soil loss

• Critical throughout history• We often irrigate marginal lands with fragile soils in areas that do not get enough rain

• Water has to travel from the place of origin to the place of use

• We have to control the water’s flow- too much water …too fast is not good

• Need to balance water needs of plants with the potential for runoff and soil loss

Engineered IrrigationEngineered Irrigation

• There are lots of ways to get water from the source (a river or lake) to a field• People can carry it in buckets- but water is heavy!

• Horses, donkeys, oxen or some other animal carries it- it’s heavy for them too!

• You can dig a canal - that is hard work - and engineering!

• You can run a pipe - That sounds like a good idea!

• There are lots of ways to get water from the source (a river or lake) to a field• People can carry it in buckets- but water is heavy!

• Horses, donkeys, oxen or some other animal carries it- it’s heavy for them too!

• You can dig a canal - that is hard work - and engineering!

• You can run a pipe - That sounds like a good idea!

Engineered IrrigationEngineered IrrigationQuickTime™ and a

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Lesson FocusLesson Focus

• Students work in teams to design and build a system to move water from one source to two different delivery areas.

• Students work in teams to design and build a system to move water from one source to two different delivery areas.

Lesson ChallengeLesson Challenge

• Move two cups of water for at least four feet and distribute it evenly into two separate containers.

• Minimize and capture all water leakage

• Control rate of flow (the slower the better)

• Move two cups of water for at least four feet and distribute it evenly into two separate containers.

• Minimize and capture all water leakage

• Control rate of flow (the slower the better)

ProcedureProcedure

• Develop a plan• Build your "irrigation" system• Test your system.• Evaluate the effectiveness of your own irrigation systems and those of other teams

• Present findings to the class.

• Develop a plan• Build your "irrigation" system• Test your system.• Evaluate the effectiveness of your own irrigation systems and those of other teams

• Present findings to the class.

MaterialsMaterials

• Each team will get:• 1 large cup• 2 smaller cups• 10 straws• 6 paper clips• 10 toothpicks• Duct tape, masking tape• Aluminum foil

• Each team will get:• 1 large cup• 2 smaller cups• 10 straws• 6 paper clips• 10 toothpicks• Duct tape, masking tape• Aluminum foil

Constraints - limitations or restrictions

Constraints - limitations or restrictions

• Use only materials provided• Cups must be free standing, not taped to the table or floor

• No drips - or - if there are drips you must capture all the dripped water

• Use only materials provided• Cups must be free standing, not taped to the table or floor

• No drips - or - if there are drips you must capture all the dripped water

Engineering GoalEngineering Goal• Move the water at least four feet from a source to 2 cups that will receive the water

• Water distributed equally between the 2 cups

• Challenge- for those who want to do more you may try this - in addition to the goals stated above:• make the longest irrigation system• Have the slowest moving water• Split the water into a 75% and 25% ratio (after accomplishing 50% water in each cup)

• Move the water at least four feet from a source to 2 cups that will receive the water

• Water distributed equally between the 2 cups

• Challenge- for those who want to do more you may try this - in addition to the goals stated above:• make the longest irrigation system• Have the slowest moving water• Split the water into a 75% and 25% ratio (after accomplishing 50% water in each cup)

Individual Accountability

Individual Accountability

• You work together as a group• BUT……• Each person is responsible for completing and turning in the Irrigation Ideas worksheet

• You work together as a group• BUT……• Each person is responsible for completing and turning in the Irrigation Ideas worksheet

Evaluation QuestionsEvaluation Questions

• Did you succeed in creating an irrigation system that was able to split the water source into two cups of water equally?

• What characteristics made for a good design?

• What revisions needed to be made between the design and the testing phases?

• Did you succeed in creating an irrigation system that was able to split the water source into two cups of water equally?

• What characteristics made for a good design?

• What revisions needed to be made between the design and the testing phases?

Applications to the real world

Applications to the real world

• How does what you have done today apply to the real world?

• Why is irrigation important?• How does an increasing world population affect the need for irrigation?

• Why do we need engineers?

• How does what you have done today apply to the real world?

• Why is irrigation important?• How does an increasing world population affect the need for irrigation?

• Why do we need engineers?