Groundwater/Aquifer Lessons
In conjunction with the Missoula Water Quality District, WEN helps students explore the connection between groundwater, surface water, drinking water and our local creeks, streams and rivers.
Students gain an appreciation for where their drinking water comes from. In this lesson, students explore where groundwater comes from and its relationship to Missoula’s aquifer.
Students also learn how contaminants travel through an aquifer, what different checks are put into place to monitor groundwater quality, and why it is important to monitor streams and rivers in the Missoula area.
program options
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WEN can join your class for 1-3 interactive classroom presentations. Our class presentations include hands-on activities helping students explore the difference between surface and groundwater. Activities are adapted to serve K-12 classrooms and may include:
groundwater flow model
This activity brings the focus to Missoula, and is used to help students understand what an aquifer is, the connection it has to our drinking water, as well as the unique properties of Missoula's aquifer.
build your own aquifer
This is an experiment to help students better understand the properties of substrates that make up an aquifer and how the substrate composition determines the overarching qualities and functions of an aquifer.
enviroscape exploration
EnviroScape is an interactive model that helps students better understand how a watershed functions, as well as the effecct surface pollution has on our water resources.
incredible journey
This interactive game helps students simulate the movement of water within the water cycle.
creative writing
Students create a short, creative writing or art project about their journey as a water droplet.
water cycle boogie
This is an introductory activity used to help kids start thinking about the water cycle and the transitions that occur.