A New Use of a Simple Pump

The mechanism for a squirt gun is simple, effective and low cost. It is replicated in many items used in the home for cleaning. This article presents a 5E lesson that allows students the o... See More

The mechanism for a squirt gun is simple, effective and low cost. It is replicated in many items used in the home for cleaning. This article presents a 5E lesson that allows students the opportunity to develop their own use of the pump action in this simple toy. All stages of the lesson are presented with background information for the teacher. This is a neat activity useful for STEM classes as well as regular middle school students.

Squirt Guns Always Have Students' Attention

My middle school kids loved this investigation. Squirt guns are one of the kids favorite toys to play with, learning about how they work intrigued them. This article did a great job of exp... See More

My middle school kids loved this investigation. Squirt guns are one of the kids favorite toys to play with, learning about how they work intrigued them. This article did a great job of explaining the system of the squirt gun in a way students were able to grasp the concept of valves, springs and pistons. The 5E model is utilized throughout the article in such a way I can use it with my students immediately. The activity worksheet is set up to be used the moment you access the article.