Dale County students learn importance of water

Students from Dale County schools visited Wallace Community College on Friday to learn about water and its importance to industry and life.

About 600 fourth-graders from Dale County’s elementary schools visited Wallace for the college’s Dale County Groundwater Festival. At the event, students had the opportunity to learn about the water cycle, how water is used by mankind and conservation and pollution issues.

Instructors used a variety of methods to teach the students about groundwater, including a demonstration that used ice cream and sprinkles to explain how aquifers work.

Using a cup of water, sprinkles and some ice cream, students simulated the filtration process water goes through as it enters the aquifers from where Wiregrass residents draw their drinking water.

Students used sprinkles as pesticides and syrup as oil to illustrate how water in the soil, which was represented by ice cream, is contaminated by human activity.

The annual event complements fourth-graders’ science curriculum, which includes a study of the environment and the effects of pollution, said Sally Buchanan, a Wallace spokesperson. One of the main points made by the festival was the scarcity and value of water. According to festival organizers, although 70 percent of the Earth is water, only a fraction of that is fresh water which is safe for drinking.

Shannon Reaves of Ozark is a parent who volunteered to accompany the students on the trip. Reaves said she was impressed by the presentations.

“There are a lot of things you can do with water that I never thought of,” she said.

Katelyn Stephens, 9, said the festival was a great learning experience for her.

“I actually learned that water evaporates but stays in the cycle,” she said.

Sebastian Gonzales, 9, said, “You can only drink 1 percent of the world’s water. I want more water that you can drink.”

Antriana Crawley, 9, was especially impressed by the ice cream aquifer demonstration.

“I love it,” she said. “I wish we could go to that class every day.”