A Clean Drink Activities: Settle Down

Settle Down!

Purpose:

In this activity the student will learn how sediments in our water form and are deposited.

Objectives:

As a result of this activity, the student will:

1. Observe what happens when different sized particles are settled in water.

2. Create a model sedimentation tank.

Materials:

* 3 cups of dirt

* 1 cup of sand

* 1 cup of pebbles

* 2-5 small rocks ( 1 inch in diameter)

* 1 gallon tap water

* Salad Oil

* Turkey baster

* Eye dropper

* 4 clear plastic cups numbered 1to 4

* Small Aquarium

* Bucket

TEKS:

3.1A,B 3.2A,E 3.3A,B,C,D 3.11A,B

Procedure:

1. Mix the dirt and water in a bucket. Fill the baster with the mixture from the bucket and put it into cup #1. Record observations.

2. Put the sand, pebbles, and rocks into the bucket. Fill the cup marked #2 from the bucket and record your observations.

3. Pour salad oil into the bucket. Fill the baster from the middle of the mixture in the bucket and place its contents into cup #3. Take a baster full from the top of the bucket and put it in cup #4. Observe cups #3 and #4.

4. Without mixing the contents of the bucket, pour the remainder of the mixture into the aquarium. Observe what happens after an hour, five hours, a day, and one week.

Questions:

1. What was different about each sample taken?

2. What did you notice about the samples in each cup?

3. How would you remove the oil from the mixtures in #3 and #4?

4. Can you remove dirt from the bottom of the aquarium without mixing it with the liquid on the top?

5. Would you drink or cook with this water? Why not?

Extension:

The Denver Earth Science Project has developed a plastic ground water model for classroom use. This ground water model can be used to model an aquifer, recharge and discharge, and ground water contamination. For further information contact Jim Proud at: jproud@mines.edu or call 800/446-9488, Ext.3038.

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