Goals and Objectives for Groundwater and Aquifer

Lessons (2 days)
Lesson Goals -MS-ESS3-1: Construct a scientific
explanation based on evidence for
how the uneven distributions of
Earths mineral, energy, and
groundwater resources are the
result of past and current
geoscience processes.

-Students will understand

permeability and that water travels
through different substances at
different rates because of pore size.
-Students will understand that water
permeating into the soil is entering
into a large system of groundwater
-Students will understand what an
aquifer is.
-Students will understand the
difference between a confined
aquifer and an unconfined aquifer.
Lesson Objectives -Students will investigate three
different substances and rank their
ability to pass water.
-Students will learn the concepts
permeability, pore size, and
groundwater and have a better
understanding of each.
-Students will create their own
aquifer in a cup.
-Students will explore real images of
Michigans aquifers.
Lesson Materials - Plastic Cups
- Sand
- Gravel
- Plaster
- Handouts
- Water
- Play Doh
Agenda for --Bell Work journaling: What is
groundwater? (5min)
Groundwater Day 1 --Ground Water Lab Challenge
Exploration (20-25min)
--Concept Building: Permeability,
Pore Space, Groundwater. (5-10min)
--Exit ticket: power point picture.
Which image do you think water will
pass through the fastest? (2-3min)
Agenda for Aquifers Day Exploration
--Doing the aquifer in a cup lab. (15
2 min)
--Define and draw a picture of a
confined aquifer. Define and draw a
picture of an unconfined aquifer.
Students present pictures/gallery walk
to see what others were thinking.
(10min)
Concept Building
--Reinforcing permeability, defining
aquifer.
Show a map of Michigans aquifers.
--Show a diagram of an aquifer. (5-
10min)
--Reading on aquifers. (10min)
Application
--Exit Ticket: On worksheet. (2 min)
 Groundwater Lab Challenge
Challenge: Determine whether water can travel through each
substance. Then rank each of the substances in order of which
substance water can pass through the fastest, which substance
water passes through the slowest, and which substance was in
the middle.

First, Make a Hypothesis

Substance Will water pass Why?
through this
surface fast, slow,
or not at all?

Which substance do you think the water will pass through the
fastest? Rank the substances below and give a brief statement
why?

Now test your hypothesis with these steps, and fill in the
table on the next page:
- Fill each of your plastic cups with the different materials
provided.
- Poke some holes in the bottom of your cup.
- Then, using your stopwatch, time some water as it passes
from the top to the bottom of your cup.
 - Record your times and take an average, then rank each
substance according to how fast the water was able to
pass through it.

Materials: Sand, Gravel, Cement, Water, Plastic cups

Material Rank Did water Time trial Time trial Time trial Average
pass 1 2 3 time
through it?
Yes or No

Permeability =

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__
Pore Space =

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__

Groundwater =

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__
 Exit Ticket
Which picture do you think water will move through the

fastest?

Day 2 Aquifer on the Go

- After completing the aquifer on the go challenge, take
what youve learned and draw a picture that shows a
confined aquifer and an unconfined aquifer.
- Create a definition that you think best captures a confined
aquifer and an unconfined aquifer. Be prepared to share.
Aquifer =

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__

Confined

Aquifer
=

Unconfined Aquifer =

Exit Ticket
With the confining layer shown, and two layers of groundwater,
which layer of ground water is within a Confined Aquifer (Layer
A or Layer B)?
Which layer of groundwater is in an Unconfined Aquifer (Layer
A or Layer B)?

B: Ground Water