Name: _________________________
Soil Infiltration Lab
Class Period: ______ Date: ________
Lab Set Up:
For SAMPLE 1:
Fill an 8oz cup (the big cup) with 2 SCOOPS of SAND. Poke a SMALL HOLE in the bottom of the 8oz. (big) cup
using a toothpick. Then set the filled up INSIDE of an empty 3oz. (small) cup.
For SAMPLE 2:
Fill a second 8oz cup with 1.5 SCOOPS of sand. Then add 1 SCOOP of topsoil to it. Poke a SMALL HOLE in the
bottom of the 8oz. (big) cup using a toothpick. Then set the filled up INSIDE of an empty 3oz. (small) cup.
Topsoil
Sand
Sample 1
Sand
Sample 2
Methods – Sample 1:
1) Pour dirty “polluted” water in the Sample 1 (Sand).
a. What happens to the things floating in the water? Write you OBSERVATIONS in the Chart
below.
2) Pour the water out of the bottom cup and replace it beneath your sample. Pour KOOL AID water into
Sample 1 (Sand)
a. What color is the Kool-Aid going into the sand?
b. What color is the Kool-Aid do you collect from the bottom?
Methods – Sample 2:
1) Pour dirty “polluted” water in the Sample 2 (Sand & Soil).
a. What happens to the things floating in the water? Write you OBSERVATIONS in the Chart
below.
2) Pour the water out of the bottom cup and replace it beneath your sample. Pour KOOL AID water into
Sample 2 (Sand & Soil)
a. What color is the Kool-Aid going into the sand?
b. What color is the Kool-Aid do you collect from the bottom?
OBSERVATIONS:
SAMPLE
Sample 1 (Sand Only)
Dirty Water Observations
Kool-Aid Observations
Color going in:
Color observed in small cup:
Sample 2 (Sand AND Topsoil)
Color going in:
Color observed in small cup:
Analyze: Answer in complete sentences. Support your answers using your observations and what you have
learned about soil.
1) Is the water in bottom (small cup) the same for both samples for the dirty water? Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2) Is the water in the bottom (small cup) the same for both samples for the Kool-Aid? Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Link to Nature:
Wetlands are areas where the soil can hold a LOT of water without it running off. The water slowly seeps
through the soils, where many types of bacteria and fungi live. These bacteria, fungi and many plants
common in wetlands are great at “eating up” harmful substances and pollutants and converting them to less
harmful substances and clean water. Productive wetlands can be a hub of life, providing habitat for rare
birds, fish and plant species in a unique environment. Many scientists call wetlands “Nature’s filter.”
3) What characteristics of wetlands have earned them the nickname “Nature’s filter”?
(Use complete sentences please)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4) How does healthy soil contribute to clean drinking water? What are TWO ways runoff can contribute
to dirty drinking water? (Use complete sentences please)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________