Rain Water Models
Tags: Rain Water, Aquifer, ground water, pollution, Outdoor, All-Grades, Anytime
Time : 30 mins
Author: Lynda Boudreault, based on Earth Camp lesson plans
Note: This lesson best follows lessons about the water cycle.
Outline
| Greeting and Review | ● Greet class in usual place.● Ask kids if they know what an aquifer is? What happens to water when it rains? |
| Main Lesson | ● Where does water go when it rains? How does water get into the ground? Explain that under Austin is a collection of wet, underground rocks that allow water to pass through and that holds the water that we use to drink and bath and watering plants. (For a refresher on aquifers go to https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-aquifer-lesson-for-kids.html or here.) |
| Activity 1 | ● Materials Needed: Eight plastic containers, red food coloring, watering cans (8) filled with water, earth camp run off station. (See attached image for placement of plastic containers).● Gather students at the “Soak in or run off” exhibit area (northwest corner).● Consider each of the environments: native yard, construction site, street, grass yard.
● Have students make predictions about which environments are best for allowing rain water to sink into the ground and enter into the aquifers. ● Drip a few drops of food coloring into each model. Have students pour water into each of the environments. ● Allow students to watch an make observations about which environments to soak into ground and which run off. ● Discuss implications. |
| Activity 2 | ● Materials Needed: Watering cans, red die, little houses/buildings, water collection bucket.● Preparation: Place collection bucket under hose to collect water.● Gather students around map of Austin table (north side of house).
● Have students place houses and buildings around models. ● Have students make observations about the layout and topography of Austin (Location of rivers, of Town Lake, hills, houses, etc.). ● Have students make predictions about what will happen to water. ● Drop red die on locations around the map. ● Have students make it rain over model and make observations about the flow of water, the red die (pollution). Where does the water go? |
| Cleanup | ● Have students collect pieces. A few students and HELP tilt table to pour off remaining water. Pour off water from collection bucket into plants. Allow 2 mins for any cleanup. |
| Goodbye | ● 2-3 minutes to say goodbye in your usual way. |
| External References | About aquifers: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-aquifer-lesson-for-kids.html or Here |
| Worksheets | None |
If possible, split the class into two groups (or smaller if you use supplemental materials) and rotate activities.
