Mission Library

Hydro Heist (Beta)
Freshwater vs Salt Water Distribution
5th Grade

The Mission
30 min

Storyline

Using their knowledge of water distribution, the crew will fix the hydroflux pumps that the Gal-Delilahs damaged

Students start the mission on their way home immediately after Gal-Delilahs attack the ship. They have messed up the power system and stolen the ship’s water supply chambers. The ship needs that water to keep the crew hydrated and to keep the hydroflux pumps running. Those pumps run on freshwater. Without the hydroflux pumps working properly, the crew can’t steer the ship. If they can’t steer, they won’t be able to avoid crashing into the large pile of space debris that they are currently on trajectory to hit in about 30 minutes!. If the ship hit one of those piles of debris, it will tear the ship to shreds and the crew will be done for!

Lucky for them, it looks like an upcoming planet that they are about to float past has water on it. If they can transport some freshwater from there before their ship crashes into the space debris, they will be able to activate the hydroflux pumps, steer around the debris and make it home alive, in one piece! The crew will analyze the water distribution on this planet in order to determine which location to transport the water from.

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Salt and freshwater is distributed unevenly on Earth.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Develop and/or use models to describe and/or predict phenomena.

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Describe, measure, estimate, and/or graph quantities (e.g., area, volume, weight, time) to address scientific and engineering questions and problems.

Crosscutting Concepts

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

Students recognize natural objects and observable phenomena exist from the very small to the immensely large. They use standard units to measure and describe physical quantities such as weight, time, temperature, and volume.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes

Most of Earth’s water is in the ocean and much of the Earth’s fresh water is in glaciers or underground.

Resources
Targeted Standards
Timeline
Skills in Action