|
GROUNDWATER
Module Activites
Only
a Drop to Drink On Earth
Water distribution on earth
Students demonstrate water distribution on Earth - the relative
volumes of salt water and freshwater (surface vs. groundwater included)
- and learn how very little is available for human use.
Porosity
and Permeability of Soils
Porosity, permeability, water retention
Students learn about water movement through various soil and rock
materials. Click
here for the Worksheet.
Click here for Key
Porous Pots
Porosity, permeability, capillary action
Students observe how water can be absorbed through a clay pot
through capillary action, learning the characteristics of clay material
that allows water to seep through.
Saturated Soil
Infiltration, percolation
Students learn how different soil characteristics play important
roles on how fast water can be absorbed
Exploring Aquifers and Water Flow
Darcy effect, artesian well, hydraulic gradient
Students learn how water flows through an aquifer and determine
what effect a difference in elevation between the point of water
entry and the outflow from a well has on water flow within an artesian
well system.
A Grave Mistake
Arsenic in groundwater, groundwater movement, land use interaction.
Students plot data to determine a source of arsenic contamination
and determine possible actions for solving the problem
The Pucker Effect
Plume, groundwater contamination, groundwater movement
Students determine the origin of a toxic contaminant polluting the
drinking water or a community by learning about groundwater movement.
Groundwater Pollution and Spill Assessment
Plume, groundwater contamination, groundwater movement
Students will assess and solve a groundwater contamination problem
caused by an accidental spill of a pollutant in a simulated exercise
based on real world conditions.
Finding the Water Table and Hydraulic
Gradient (Simulator activity)
Understand the concept of the groundwater table. Find the groundwater
table on the simulator. Calculate the hydraulic gradient (slope
of the groundwater table).
Where's
the Flow Going to Go? (Simulator activity)
Predict and observe the direction and path of groundwater flow from
various locations on the simulator.
Where's
the Deeper Flow Going to Go? (Simulator activity)
Predict and observe the direction and path of groundwater flow from
deeper locations on the simulator
Determining
Groundwater Flow Velocity (Simulator activity)
Determine the groundwater flow velocity as groundwater moves through
confined and unconfined aquifers. See if recharge affects groundwater
flow velocity.
Demonstrating
Drawdown (Simulator activity)
Demonstrate drawdown and understand the consequences of this action.
My
Drinking Water Well Isn't So Well (Simulator activity)
Determine the impact groundwater contamination will have on a drinking
water well.
Protect
the Stream with a Groundwater Remediation Plan (Simulator
activity)
A summary activity in which a plan for groundwater remediation (clean-up)
is determined in order to protect a local stream.
Groundwater
Creek Geek Knowledgy
Students play a Creek Connections version of Jeopardy to review
the main concepts/facts presented in the Groundwater Module. Click
here to go to the on-line game.
Click
here for a printable version of the board
Water
Cycle: Video Quiz
Students will watch a DVD explaining the basic principles of the
water cycle, then answer questions from the video quiz. They will
then complete a worksheet with key vocabulary words from the DVD,
review the quiz answers with the class and engage in a class discussion
on the importance of the water cycle.
Groundwater
Websites
EPA
Guide to Groundwater Protection
Hamilton to New Baltimore
Groundwater Consortium
The Groundwater
Foundation
Center
for Groundwater Studies: Groundwater Information
USGS Groundwater
Pennsylvania's
Cool Resource (DEP)
|
