Desolation: STEM Series - Urine Trouble: Water Purification Kit

This kit is a great introduction to experimental planning and laboratory practices! My daughter and I are both professional educators and we have seen nothing like it to introduce students to STEM. The kit came with two lab procedures. I did the open-ended procedure and my daughter used the step by step protocol. We both arrived at the same experimental result, but the process to get there was very different. I think that as a student I would have learned more from the open-ended procedure and it perfectly embodies the spirit of the Next Generation Science Standards. The kit included a solid introduction to the topic, covering the mechanics of distillation and the biology of what happens in our bodies as we process urine. I feel that the interdisciplinary nature of the product makes it more realistic as scientists and engineers from many fields will frequently come together to collaborate on modern day research and design projects. Gone are the days of the lone scientist coming up with an invention that changes the world. Science is simply too far advanced!The story of the astronauts being trapped was well thought out and I was a little disappointed that the story stopped before finding out what happened to them. I asked the company about this and they said that the story is just one episode in an upcoming series of kits. My favorite thing as a woman is that the lead character is female! I come from a generation where girls could read career books from the school library such as "space secretary" (check it out if you don't believe me). I didn't even know the main character was female when I ordered the kit and I liked the way that she wasn't promoted as a poster-child but rather just another member of the crew, of equal value, and perhaps slightly more resourceful than all of the men on the moon. We need more role-models for girls in science and engineering! I can't wait for the next one to come out!I'm going to try this kit with my students in the coming weeks. Based on the experience I have had with the kit so far I just know they will love it!