On September 20, 1999, the Hamilton to New Baltimore Groundwater Consortium (Consortium), was awarded a $5,000.00 mini grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Fund.  With the grant money the Consortium purchased 12 three-dimensional groundwater sand tank models similar to the model shown above and prepared an age appropriate groundwater protection curricula education binder to elementary, middle and high schools in the Hamilton to New Baltimore area.

11 models and curricula binders were distributed to area schools.  One model and curricula binder are available as a loan to schools that wish to add this valuable tool to their groundwater unit lessons in an effort to teach children about our great natural resource, groundwater!  Please contact the Wellfield Protection Coordinator, Tim McLelland at 513-785-7210 for more information.

The ultimate goal of this groundwater education project is to improve student understanding of groundwater as a source of drinking water and the need to protect the source.

The curriculum includes a wide variety of activities and lecture materials for groundwater study units as well as presentation guidelines for shorter sessions.  All the materials can be tailored to specific grade levels. 

• For elementary school students, the sand tank model can be used to communicate the basic concept of groundwater and its use as a source of drinking water. 
  

• For middle school students, the lesson can be expanded to include discussions on the geologic impact of glaciers in Ohio, groundwater movement, source of groundwater pollution, and how pollution affects drinking water.
  

• For high school students, the model can be used for teaching more compelling issues including the specifics of groundwater movement (permeability, porosity, hydraulic conductivity), groundwater/surface water recharge, and groundwater pollution.