Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource
How Water Moves Underground: Infiltration, Permeability & Aquifers — 5E Lesson Plan
Earth Science · 50 minutes
Grade 5
5E lesson flow
01
Engage
6 min
Teacher Does
Show two ground surfaces after rain: one puddled and one quickly drained.
Students Do
Predict why water followed different paths.
Ask
- What property of the material might affect water movement?
Look For
Ideas about pore spaces and permeability.
02
Explore
15 min
Teacher Does
Guide a matched column test using equal material and water amounts.
Students Do
Observe infiltration and compare water passage through each column.
Ask
- What stayed the same? What changed?
Look For
Fair-test reasoning and observable flow differences.
03
Explain
10 min
Teacher Does
Introduce infiltration, permeability, groundwater, and aquifer language.
Students Do
Use the terms to explain column evidence.
Ask
- Why does faster flow suggest greater permeability?
Look For
Connected-space reasoning.
04
Model
10 min
Teacher Does
Show a groundwater cross-section with surface soil, permeable layers, less-permeable layers, and a water table.
Students Do
Trace a drop from rainfall to groundwater.
Ask
- Where does recharge occur? Where is water stored?
Look For
Water entering and moving through underground spaces, not an underground lake.
05
Apply
5 min
Teacher Does
Present a new recharge scenario.
Students Do
Predict how paving versus permeable ground could affect infiltration.
Ask
- Which surface would allow more infiltration in this model?
Look For
Claims linked to permeability rather than unsupported absolutes.
06
Evaluate
4 min
Teacher Does
Assign one transfer question.
Students Do
Explain aquifer behavior using permeability and groundwater.
Ask
- What evidence supports your explanation?
Look For
Accurate vocabulary and model limits.
Student goal
I can model how water infiltrates Earth materials and explain how permeability affects groundwater movement.
Learning objectives
- I can explain infiltration as water moving from the surface into soil or rock.
- I can compare how quickly water moves through Earth materials with different permeability.
- I can use a model to explain how groundwater is stored and moves through an aquifer.
Materials
- Three identical clear column containers
- Equal volumes of gravel, coarse sand, and clay-rich soil or classroom substitutes
- Water
- Measuring cups
- Collection cups
- Trays
- Timer
- Groundwater cross-section model cards
Before class
- Prepare equal material amounts in identical columns.
- Place collection cups beneath columns.
- Use the same starting water volume for every test.
- Keep the investigation on trays to contain spills.
- Do not use collected water for drinking.
Prior knowledge
- Water can move over and through Earth materials.
- Earth materials contain particles, spaces, and cracks.
Vocabulary
- infiltration
- The process of water soaking from the ground surface into soil or rock.
- permeability
- How easily water can move through connected spaces in a material.
- groundwater
- Water found underground in spaces and cracks within soil, sediment, and rock.
- aquifer
- A body of permeable rock or sediment that can store and transmit groundwater.
- water table
- The upper surface of the underground zone where spaces in soil or rock are filled with water.
- recharge
- Water entering the ground and adding to groundwater storage.
Differentiation
- Use a three-step visual: surface water → infiltration → groundwater.
- Provide sentence frames: Water moved faster through ___ because ___.
- Allow students to trace a water path with a finger before writing.
- For extension, ask how a less-permeable layer can change groundwater movement.
Assessment
- Check infiltration definition.
- Check interpretation of permeability evidence.
- Check aquifer explanation avoids the underground-lake misconception.
- Check fair-test variables.
Exit ticket
Why can a permeable layer store and move groundwater?
Extension
Revise the model to show how a paved surface might change groundwater recharge.