How to Use a Plastic Storage Box As a Water Table

The Earth Science curriculum requires teaching students about surface water systems. Creating a water or stream table out of a storage box gives students the opportunity for experiential learning.

Instructions

Building the Water Table

1

Drill a 1/4-inch hole centered at one end of the storage bin. This will be the drain for the water.

2

Fill the opposite end of the storage box with a mixture coarse and fine sand.
Leave about 1/3 of the box at the drain end free of sand.

3

Place the storage bin at one end of a table. Make sure the drain hole is hanging just off the end of the table.

4

Prop the sand end of the storage bin up. Start with the angle at 15 degrees or less. Throughout the lesson, the angle can change by propping the box up more.

5

Place a bucket under the drain hole of the bin.

Teaching a Lesson Using the Water Table

6

Start with the table at a 15 degree angle or less. Carve a meandering stream in the sand with their fingers.

7

Slowly pour a pitcher of water at the top end of the stream.

8

Have students make observations about where the stream erodes and where stream deposits collect. Make special note of the delta that forms.

9

After observations are made, push all the sand back up to the top two-thirds of the water table.

10

Repeat the process several times changing the angle of the water table. Popsicle sticks can be added to the bank to see how erosion effects them. They can also be used to create a dam. Have the students make observations about how the velocity of the water changes, the shape of the stream and the shape of the delta.

Other Experiments

11

Place the stream table at 15 degrees.

12

Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of food coloring. The food colored water is to represent contaminants in the water.

13

Carve a stream in the sand with your finger.

14

Spray the colored water onto the sand rapidly. Have the students make observations about where the contaminants travel through the stream and delta.

15

Add sponges at the bottom of the sand. The sponges represent wetlands. Repeat the process above. Have students make observations about where the contaminants flow now. The process can also be repeated at different angles to show how wetlands protect from runoff.