Pool Opening Problems.

[Watermom]

Make 'em do pool problems . . . !

Concentrations, ratios, flow rates, complex volume calculations (liner pools are easy, because they are all straight sides or radius curves, so bright middle school students possess the basic black-box tools to do the calcs), and so on.

Actually, I do. In the past couple of weeks, we have been doing some geometry. They have calculated the circumference of my pool, area of my pool floor, surface area of my pool (cylinder), etc. They all wanted to know if they could come over and swim when school is out. Uh............ I don't think all 140 of y'all are gonna fit in my pool!!

[PoolDoc]

Great!

But what about volume, in both SI and US. And weight! Have a bag of M&M's and give it to the person who can best estimate the volume in 60 seconds.

And flow rate, in GPM, LPM and pounds per hour.

And, from the weight of sand in your filter, the average grain size (0.50mm), and the mass density of quartz, and an assumption of a grain shaped like an equilateral 4-sided pyramid (doubled) . . . calculate the number of sand particles in your filter!

[Watermom]

Oh boy, Ben. You're gonna be in big trouble! Giving M&Ms is a big NO-NO! We can't give any food out for any reason in our district. No pieces of candy for a reward, no pizza parties for rewards. You can't even do any lessons with actual food. No cooking anything when we study fractions, etc. We might all get fat from those 13 M&Ms in the snack size bag!

[PoolDoc]

Well, offer them a bag of all-natural and extra-healthy crickets instead. That will probably motivate the boys, anyhow . . . especially if you give out the crickets in the first class of the day.

PS. Walmart sells them, at least around here.

[CarlD]

Just to add my two cents:
In case you haven't figured it out, for now pay no attention to T/A or CH. Don't add any baking soda.

For whatever reason your pH running a little low, in the 7.2 range isn't a problem. Don't "fix" it. Chlorine is actually more effective at lower pH levels and 7.2 is safe for vinyl and safe for swimming.

Carl

[Watermom]

Well, offer them a bag of all-natural and extra-healthy crickets instead.

PS. Walmart sells them, at least around here.

And YOU buy these, I presume?