Featured Activity:
Edible Earth Parfait
This activity is a
fun and easy way to understand the geology of an
aquifer.
An
aquifer
is an underground layer of porous rock, sand, etc. containing water, into
which wells can be sunk.
Materials needed:
Blue or red food
coloring
Vanilla ice cream
Clear soda pop
Crushed ice
Variety of colored cake
decoration sprinkles and sugars
Drinking straws
Clear plastic cups
Instructions:
-
Begin to
construct your edible aquifer by filling a clear plastic cup 1/3 full
with crushed ice (this is the gravel and soil)
-
Add
enough soda to just cover the ice.
-
Add a
layer of ice cream to serve as a "confining layer" over the water-filled
aquifer.
-
The add
more crushed ice on top of the "confining layer".
-
Add a
layer of sprinkles and sugars to represent a porous top layer.
-
Add a
few drops of food color to the remaining soda. This represents the
contaminated water.
-
Carefully pour the contaminated water is over the "aquifer" and watch what
happens. This is the same thing that happens when contaminants are
spilled on the earth's surface.
-
Using
your straw, drill a well into the center of your "aquifer".
-
Slowly
begin to pump the well by sucking on the straw. Watch the decline in the
water table.
-
Notice
how the contaminants can get sucked into the well area and end up in the
groundwater by leaking through the confining layer.
-
Recharge your aquifer by adding more soda, which represents a rain
shower. Enjoy eating your Edible Aquifer!
Edible Earth Parfaits was
adapted from Making a Bigger Splash, co-published by The Groundwater
Foundation and the US EPA, Region VII. You can contact The Groundwater
Foundation at 1-800-858-4844.
