The Water Wizard has a special project for
you to try...

Cool Water Activity

Grade Levels: All ages

Duration: 25 – 30 minutes

Materials Needed:

Blue or red food coloring
Vanilla ice cream
Clear soda pop
Small gummy bears, gummy pieces or crushed ice
Variety of colored cake decoration sprinkles and sugars
Drinking straws
Clear plastic cups
Spoons

Objective:

Activity Steps:

Begin to construct your edible aquifer by filling a clear plastic cup 1/3 full with gummy
bears, gummy pieces, or crushed ice (represents gravels and soils)

Add just enough soda to cover the candy/ice.

Add a layer of ice cream to serve as a "confining layer" over the water-filled aquifer.

Then add more crushed ice on top of the "confining layer."

Colored sugars and sprinkles represent soils and should be sprinkled over the top
to create the porous top layer.

Now add the food coloring to the soda. The food coloring represents contamination.
Watch what happens when it is poured on the top of the "aquifer." Keep in mind that
the same thing 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.

Now recharge your aquifer by adding more soda, which represents a rain shower.

Review what you have learned as you 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. If you are interested
in more activities based on environmental issues, go to the EPA web site or contact
The Groundwater Foundation at 1-800-858-4844.

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