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Lesson 3: Groundwater Display * A model representing a cross section of subsurface ground and the movement of water underground   Geared toward 3rd through 7th grade (target 4th grade)   Materials Groundwater kit and case Food coloring 3 plastic cups to mix coloring and water              2.5 gallon catch bucket for drained water

• Activity

1.              Set up the groundwater display in an area above ground where all students can see the front of the display

2.              Review the water cycle with students (emphasis that much of the precipitation we see ends up in the ground)

3.              Discuss where we get most of our water drinking water for our homes (wells)

4.              Inject dyes into the three injection tubes of the model and have students see how the water is moving in different sub-strates. Note speed and direction of movement.

5.              Introduce vocabulary (artesian wells, lake, landfills, permeability)

6.              Begin to draw water out of wells at different locations within the model and discuss changes in water/dye patterns

7.              Have students predict actions that might change water movement. Have them check their predictions (ie. Draw water from a specific well/ inject dyes to other areas of the model)

8.              Discuss the impact of several wells in a confined area (neighborhood impacts on groundwater)

9.              Discuss well and septic placement

• Mat-Su District 4^th Grade Standards addressed with this activity:

1.      A1.1 Asking questions, predicting, observing, describing, measuring, making generalizations, inferring

2.      A1.1a Working collaboratively, carrying out investigations

3.      A1.1b Differentiating observation from inference and knowing scientists’ explanations come partly from what they observe and how they interpret their observations.

4.      A1.1c Working with an increasing variety of models and tools.

5.      A1.2a Formulating and justifying predictions based on cause and effect relationships

• Time required