Groundwater

Education Materials

The free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® software is needed to view and print many of the portable document format (PDF) files available at this site. [ Learn more...]

Fun with Groundwater

Try a 20-question interactive quiz

Watch the animated water cycle

Check out these 6 activity sheets

Wisconsin Groundwater Directory
New resource now available! The Wisconsin Groundwater Directory provides listings of state agencies and what they do related to groundwater, contacts for groundwater information and education programs, printed and online resources related to groundwater, and more! This publication was produced by the Education Subcommittee of the Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC).

Groundwater Model Teacher Workshops

2009 Teacher Workshop Annoucement

2009 Teacher Workshop Application

Since 2001, training on the use of a groundwater sand tank model has been provided annually to educators from schools or nature centers around the state. The educators selected through a competitive application process receive a one-day training session, a groundwater flow model and instructions on using it, classroom exercises designed to meet state academic standards, and reimbursement for substitute teachers while at the training. Since 2001, educators from 186 schools or nature centers have received training through this program and received a free model (see map).

The training is provided by staff from the Wisconsin DNR, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the UW Stevens Point Center for Watershed Science and Education. Funding for the groundwater workshops comes from a wellhead protection "setaside" grant given to the DNR by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the workshops, contact Laura Chern at
608-266-0126 or Laura.Chern@wisconsin.gov.

The groundwater model offers a "slice" or cross-section representation of the earth, allowing students to "see" groundwater. Educators and students can use the model to demonstrate a variety of groundwater flow principles, including water table levels, how groundwater supplies are replenished, how groundwater flows through different geologic materials, and how contaminants from a variety of sources can leak into groundwater. The model also contains "wells" which can be used to show the effects of pumping on the groundwater flow system. For more information on how the groundwater sand tank model can be used, visit the Portage County Groundwater Site.

More information on the workshops is available on the printable Groundwater Workshop annoucement . To receive a free groundwater model for your school or nature center, complete an application and return it by November 1, 2009.

Wisconsin Groundwater Study Guide
This award winning material is a curriculum development guide primarily for 6th to 9th grade earth science teachers, adaptable to older and younger students, informal education settings and the general public.

The guide contains:

One Cover Letter.
One 36-page "Groundwater Study Guide" Booklet.
One set of 12 Activity handouts.
Ten small Posters to use as a reference during individual or small group activities.
One large Poster to use for large group activities or classroom reference.
One copy of the Natural Resources Magazine Insert, "Groundwater: Wisconsin's Buried Treasure"
One "Groundwater Contamination Susceptibility in Wisconsin" map
List of Groundwater Models for Loan
Additional Resources
one copy of "Better Homes and Groundwater" publication
one copy of "Wisconsin Groundwater Directory"
one copy of "Wisconsin Resources Websites"

Exercises Using the Groundwater Sand Tank Model
Here are three lessons which use the groundwater model to teach students about groundwater.
Introduction to the Groundwater Model
Groundwater Exercise Using the Sand Tank Model
Quantitative Exercises Using the Groundwater Sand Tank Model

USGS Water Cycle Website
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released a major new website about "The Water Cycle". This site offers a comprehensive discussion of the water cycle, available in 36 languages. It features a superb diagram of the water cycle done by a USGS artist. There is an in-depth Web page for each of the 15 topics on the diagram, along with a single-page summary of the water cycle. The Water Cycle is one of the modules for the existing Water Science for Schools site which contains information on many aspects of water. It includes pictures, data, maps and an interactive center.

For hardcopies of any of the above materials contact:
Laura Chern
101 South Webster St
PO BOX 7921
Madison WI 53707
phone: 877-268-WELL
fax: 608-267-7650

Last Revised: Monday August 25 2008