Historical content from The Groundwater Foundation. Services and guidance retain their original context; this archive is independent of that organization.
The Awesome Aquifer Kit is now available as the ultimate groundwater education tool.
Inspire the Next Generation!
The Awesome Aquifer Kit is a fun and educational groundwater kit with everything you need to build an aquifer model. Instructions and activity supplies are included to walk you through learning all about groundwater.
The kit is great for use in classrooms, at community events, at festivals or fairs, or any other educational setting. Both youth and adults love the hands-on nature of the activities!
Awesome Aquifer 360
The Groundwater Foundation has partnered with Oklahoma State University to turn their ultimate tool for groundwater demonstrations into a digital model. K-12 students across the nation can now access this fun and interactive model, entirely online. This virtual opportunity is called Awesome Aquifer 360. Learn more at https://okla.st/aa360.
Sponsor a Classroom Program
The Awesome Aquifer kit is a national science standards (NGSS) aligned model that helps students visualize how groundwater is stored in aquifers, the connection between surface water and groundwater, wells and how they work, porosity, and permeability, as well as pollution and remediation of groundwater.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can provide selected classrooms with class sets of our physical Awesome Aquifer kit as well as access to the digital version (Awesome Aquifer 360).
About the Kit
What lessons are included?
- Groundwater and Surface Water | Training Video
- Pumping the Supply | Training Video
- Porosity | Training Video
- Permeability | Training Video
- Contamination Clues | Training Video
- Clean It Up | Training Video
- Other Things to Try
What does the kit include?
- Durable, clear plastic activity and storage box with lid
- Well simulators
- Contamination and remediation supplies
- Aquifer construction materials
What about education standards?
The activities in the Awesome Aquifer Kit are correlated to the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-ESS2-2
K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, 2-ESS1-1
HS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS3-1
2-ESS2-3, HS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS2-4
Learn How to Use the Awesome Aquifer Kit
See how to use the kit to demonstrate a variety of groundwater concepts.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 1: Groundwater and Surface Water
Learn how to use the Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate groundwater basics, and groundwater’s connection to surface water.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 2: Pumping the Supply
Learn how to use the Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate how groundwater moves and wells are used to pump groundwater to the surface.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 3: Porosity
Learn how to use the Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate porosity.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 4: Permeability
Learn how to use the Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate permeability.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 5: Contamination Clues
Learn how to use your Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate how groundwater becomes polluted.
View the original linked resource
Lesson 6: Clean It Up
Learn how to use the Awesome Aquifer Kit to demonstrate groundwater contamination can be remediated.
Worksheets to Use with the Awesome Aquifer Kit
- Groundwater and Surface Water – Are They Related? (PDF) (archived document unavailable; consult the original source)
- Pumping the Supply (PDF)
- Discovery Porosity (PDF)
- Explore the Permeability (PDF)
- Contamination Clues (PDF)
- Clean It Up (PDF)
Other Worksheets
- Draining Arizona Mining for Water (PDF) (archived document unavailable; consult the original source)
- Lake Mead’s Low Water (PDF)
- Netflix Explained World’s Water Crisis (PDF)
- Pumped Dry Documentary Viewing Guide (PDF)
- The Last Drop India’s Water Crisis (PDF)
- The Water Crisis Viewing Guide and Essay (PDF)
- Water Quality Survey (PDF)
Photo Gallery
“See” groundwater with the Awesome Aquifer kit
Use the kit in classrooms, festivals, community events, and more.