Application and Analysis: Designing and Testing an Aquifer in a Cup

It's the last two days of school before finals begin. The last two days where I will see every class and have a chance to end the year with a critical thinking, student-centered activity rather then a handout or busy work. Our unit is groundwater. What better way for students to bring together application of the vocabulary: porosity, permeability, percolation, non-point and point-source pollution, groundwater and aquifer and analyze their connection then to create an aquifer and witness it first hand. Many aquifer activities provide students with a lab sheet, including procedures, specific materials etc. To me that is boring and routine. Students would just merely conduct the experiment and get very little out of it. So I decided, lay out supplies and then have them design their own aquifer and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the key terms of our unit. It also acts as a great review, the test is tomorrow.

Each group of four has to write a lab activity, including what materials will be used, and specific procedures they will follow. They must have this design approved before touching any supplies. This helps me see that they are on the right track. Several groups placed sand above soil etc. But I let them "fail fast" in order for them to make any corrections in design and reattempt. It was amazing how many different designs they came up with. The materials offered were: sand, gravel, soil, straws, a cup, food coloring, a spray bottle, pipette and their ideas. Some students created a lake in the cup, some a river, others just placed sand, gravel, soil and then a straw in the middle. Each was successful in its own way. They underestimated the amount of sprays of water getting confused as to why the water wasn't permeating the soil. Then changed their procedures to add more until it worked. Some used the straw to demonstrate pollution others added it directly to the soil. But all of them got results and discussed how human behaviors effect our groundwater. How important it is to protect our water sources.

It was a simple activity but by allowing students to design and create their own version of an aquifer made the lesson personal and relevant. A great review and authentic student-driven activity. Plus who doesn't love to play in the dirt?