Name: _________________ Grade 6, Core: ______

Date: __________________

Quick Lab: Wetlands, A Natural Filter

Wetlands have important roles. They filter sediment from
runoff. They also absorb excess water during storms that
could cause floods. In this activity, you will model filtration
by wetlands.

Materials (per group):

1 clear pan
1 cup
1 sponge
soil
water

Procedures Checklist:
Check
off
when
done

Lab Procedures

1. In one end of the pan, build a sloping hill out of damp soil.
2. Add water to the other end of the pan to form a lake.
3. Use the cup to sprinkle water (rain) onto the hill. Observe what

happens to the hill and lake.

4. Empty the pan into a place designated by your teacher. Ask for
more soil and rebuild the hill.
5. Push the sponge into the soil across the bottom of the hill to model
a wetland. Use the diagram to help you.
6. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.
7. Empty the pan in the place designated by your teacher. Rinse out
and return your lab materials to the right corner of your table. Clean
your area.
8. Record your observations and work on your questions.
Finish the sentence:
The soil in the pan represents... _______________________.The water in the
cup represents... ______________________________.
The sponge represents... _____________________________________.
In this lab, I modeled how...
________________________________________________________________.
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Name: _________________ Grade 6, Core: ______

Date: __________________

Observations Chart:
Record your observations in the chart below. Include drawings with labels.
Trial
#

Your Observations

My observations are...

My observations are...

Think It Over!
1. Based on your observations, how can a sponge act as a filter?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. What happened to the hill and the lake the first time you poured water onto
the hill?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. What happened during the second trial, when there was a sponge between
the hill and the lake?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Summary: Write 3-5 sentences about what we learned about wetlands and why
they are important.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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