Drip Irrigation Kit(K10): Lesson4

1.Engage: Journey Through Irrigation History

Let’s Travel Through Time!
Start the lesson by showing short videos or images of irrigation methods across history:
●Ancient Mesopotamia (6000 BCE): Farmers channel river water to their fields.
●Ancient China: invite “norias” to lift water from rivers to higher ground.
●Modern times: Pumps, sprinklers, and drip irrigation.

Activity 1
Timeline Sorting
Hand out cards with irrigation events (e.g., “First canals built,” “Electric pumps invented,” “Drip irrigation introduced”). Ask students to work in pairs to sort them from oldest to newest.

Guide students to think: From ancient to modern times, irrigation methods changed a lot. What do you think made these changes happen? (e.g., more crops needed? new tools invented?)

Key Question
Before pumps existed, people worked hard to move water. How do you think pumps made irrigation easier or faster?

2. Explore: How Does a Pump Work?

Now, let’s get to know our core tool—the pump!
Step 1: Meet the Pump
A pump is a device that pushes or pulls liquids. Think of it like a strong helper for fluids. It can make water flow up a tall building.
Parts to Notice: Point to the water inlet (where water comes in) and outlet (where water goes out).

Analogy: Pumps work by creating pressure. They either push the liquid directly or create a space that the liquid rushes into. Imagine sucking on a straw. You create a low-pressure area, and the drink moves up the straw. Pumps do something similar, but much more powerfully.

Step 2: Inside the Pump (Simple Diagram)
Show a simplified diagram of a pump’s inner parts (e.g., a spinning impeller).

Explain how a pump works: the motor spins the impeller (a tiny fan), which sucks water in through the inlet and pushes it out the outlet!
Step 3: Control the Pump with K10
Connect the pump to the UNIHIKER K10 with the expansion board.

Don’t forget to put 18650 battery in and switch the expansion on before uploading.

Open the Mind+ software, import the library “UNIHIKER K10”.

Then import the library “UnihikerIOExpanison”from User-Ext.

Drag a “button A pressed” block, and link it to a “Set motor...in speed 200” block to pump on.

Drag a “button B pressed” block for “pump off.”

Connect and upload.

Submerge the pump into water.

Test:
Watch the water flow! When A is pressed, the pump starts; when B is pressed, it stops.

3. Engineer: Build a Mini Drip Irrigation System

Irrigation Systems: Which Fits Best?
Visuals: Show photos of sprinkler irrigation (wide coverage) and drip irrigation (slow drops to roots).

Key question
If you lived in a dry area with little water, which system would you choose? Why?

Drip irrigation saves water! It’s like giving plants a sip instead of a shower.

Activity 2
Let’s create a small-scale drip irrigation setup!

Follow the instructions to build:
Step 1: Connect tubing

Attach tubes and joints to the pump’s outlet by referring the picture below.

Step 2: Build holder

Step 3: Connect hardware

Step 4: Assemble and place
Assemble the tubing and holder together.

Place the pump: Submerge the inlet into the container.

Position the Pump: Place the pump near the pot, ensuring the water drops from the tubing reach the soil.

4. Experience: Hands-On Pump Control

Time to take charge! Work in pairs to practice.

Activity 3
Provide the code above and ask students upload it to their UNIHIKER K10.
Use the K10’s AB buttons to start/stop the pump.
Test the Flow: Use the AB buttons to start the pump. Does the water reach the plant? Adjust the tubing if needed!

5. Challenge: Adjust the Water Flow

Can you make the pump flow faster or slower?

Activity 4
Experiment: What happens when you tighten or loosen the water outlet.

6. Elaborate: Pumps in Our Lives

Pumps aren’t just for farms—they’re everywhere!
Think & Share
Where else have you seen pumps? (e.g., fish tanks, water fountains, car washing machines)
How could a pump help solve a problem in your community? (e.g., watering school gardens, cleaning ponds)
Bonus: Draw a sketch of “My Super Pump” that solves a real-life problem!