A multipart laboratory activity introducing microbeads was created to meet engineering and engineering design practices consistent with new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Microbeads are a current topic of concern as they have been found to cause adverse impacts in both marine and freshwater systems resulting in multiple states proposing or adopting legislation to ban their manufacture or sale. The activity allows for student inquiry, discovery, and engineering design using inexpensive, readily available, and safe chemicals. In addition, the products tested (toothpastes, facial-cleansers, and/or hand-cleansers) will be familiar items to the students, stressing the ubiquitous nature of chemistry. The activity fostered confidence in the students through designing and testing procedures, introduced them to a topic that most knew nothing about, and drew praise for achieving the learning goals while investigating a relevant real-world problem.