Groundwater contamination
In this activity, students build an aquifer model to look at point source and non-point source pollution.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
explain how pollutants are dissolved and/or carried into groundwater and surface water
discuss how polluted groundwater may lead to polluted lakes or rivers.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
student handout.
Point source contamination
In this video, educator Angela Schipper demonstrates how to build an aquifer model and simulate a point source contamination of the groundwater. This is an excellent activity that needs only a few easy to organise resources.
Point source contaminations include pollutants that occupy relatively small areas that can be identified and that often have a concentrated output, like a landfill, for example.
Points of interest: Teachers may want to discuss with their students the effects of point source pollution.
Nature of science
Scientists make use of models to test predictions. Models allow scientists to test a range of scenarios without potentially harming the environment.
Non-point source contamination
In this video, educator Angela Schipper demonstrates how to build an aquifer model and simulate a non-point source contamination of the groundwater. This is an excellent activity that needs only a few easy to organise resources.
Non-point source contamination means that pollutants enter the ground in an area that is not well defined. Sources of pollutants can include surface run-off of water or include pesticides that have been used for farming purposes and are carried with the water entering the ground to eventually enter streams and lakes.
Points of interest: Teachers may want to discuss with their students the effects of non-point source pollution.
Nature of science
Scientists make use of models to test predictions. Models allow scientists to test a range of scenarios without potentially harming the environment.
Related content
This activity is a great follow up to the activity Constructing an aquifer model – where students build an aquifer model and examine how water gets into the aquifer system.
These additional videos, Non-point source contamination and Point source contamination, offer additional help on how to use these activities in the classroom.
Find out here how the year 3 team at Hillcrest Normal School used our resources to teach about groundwater and pollution.
