Reply to "Cooking Workshop: Lessons & Ideas for the Story of Creation"

An "Edible" Creation Water Workshop

Water is life! It was there at the beginning of creation, and at our baptism. And taking care of GOD'S GIFT of water sources is one of the greatest eco-challenges humanity is facing today. This lesson riffs off of the science demonstration of water filtration and clean water sources to also make a scriptural point about our stewardship of God's creation and waters.

Below is a YouTube video demonstrating how to make an "edible aquifer" (an ice cream soda with various edible ingredients). Aquifers are how nature both stores and filters water. The "science" of aquifers, and how they become contaminated" teach children about the STEWARDSHIP of one of God's most important Creation gifts: WATER

As you walk students through the assembly and science of their "edible aquifer" you can also draw many parallels to the waters of Creation mentioned in Genesis 1, including the water God hovered over in the beginning, the separation of water from dry land, and the water that watered Eden.

The water of creation is the gift that keeps on giving --and requires our management as good stewards of God's gifts.

Here's a great video on YouTube showing how to construct and discuss an Edible Aquifer.

Here's another good video that shows the "layers" of a natural aquifer as well as the edible aquifer assembly. https://youtu.be/2mZHrk1JJrw

You'll need to make the metaphorical connection between how we use and steward creation's water every day, and how God's presence is like water SUSTAINING, CLEANING, REFRESHING and HELPING US GROW everyday. How is water used in baptism? What "waters" does your faith need to drink from? How is the church like an aquifer? What godly resources do you "store up" and draw from in your life? How have you planted yourself beside the waters? (The Psalms have many such visual images. There is a stream that makes glad the city of God! Ps 46 The still waters that restore our souls. Ps 23)

The metaphor of "contamination" of an aquifer should open up discussion about what "contaminates" our lives and thoughts. Sin is a contaminant and can very easily be demonstrated by the use of red food coloring. In a separate experiment, you can use baking soda and bleach to "get the red out" of a glass of water -- but that's not edible

You'll want to teach water's literal and figurative meaning in connection to cleansing, cooling, refreshing, being sweet not bitter (all biblical metaphors!).

Don't forget to include the image of justice which can flow like a mighty stream and perhaps visually demonstrate it using a bucket of water and some pebbles (problems).

Note: "Sin" cannot be entirely filtered out of us. That's why we have the cross and its forgiveness. You can demonstrate this by putting red food coloring in a glass of water, then mixing in baking soda and bleach which will remove the red (see video). There are variations of this experiment on YouTube.

Lots of different "water" connections to pull in here!

Here's a version of the Edible Aquifer Experiment from a secular lesson from the Univ of Georgia

"Always On the Move" is an interactive, hands-on program teaching elementary-age students to understand the geology of an aquifer, causes of groundwater contamination, and ways to prevent groundwater contamination. The program will consist of a exhibit provided by the University of Georgia, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Water Quality, on groundwater resources, along with a groundwater model display illustrating the movement of pollutants into groundwater. In addition, each student will construct an “edible” aquifer. Each “edible” aquifer will indicate: soil layers (confined layer), movement of water through a aquifer, presence of a water table, impacts of a drilled well for drinking water, and movement of contaminants through groundwater.

Leader Preparation:

Gather the materials.
Try the project

Supplies List:

Marshmellow cream or ice cream
Clear soda
Drinking Straws
Clear plastic cups (2oz. - 4 oz.)
Crushed ice
Food coloring
Decorative sprinkles and/ or crushed cookies

Lesson Plan

A. Review the definition and uses of groundwater.

B. Show the video from YouTube or an illustration of an aquifer and describe what it is (it's an underground reservoir of water (do an internet search for images). Does our city live above an aquifer? What do people use aquifers for? What is the CHURCH'S "aquifer"? What is your LIFE'S aquifer?

C. As layers of an aquifer are discussed, guide students through the construction of an edible aquifer.

1. Fill cup 1/3 full with crushed ice. (represents soil and bedrock)

2. Add soda to cover the ice. (representing water present at/below the water table)

3. Add a layer of marshmallow cream or ice cream (This works if you have a freezer to keep the ice cream cold.) (represents confining layer consisting of clay)

4. Add more crushed ice (represents soil and gravel)

5. Add colored sugar and sprinkles (representing types of contamination, such as oil, gasoline, excessive pesticides/fertilizer, etc.) (I have used red sprinkles to represent oil or gasoline, green sprinkles to represent excessive fertilizer, and brown sprinkles to represent animal waste.)

6. Add soda. (representing rain hitting the ground’s surface and moving through the soil to the groundwater)

D. Discuss examples of contamination. Ask the students to watch the soda move through the cup, ask them to describe what is happening.

E. Using a straw (representing a drilled well), ask the students to place it through the aquifer and begin sucking on the straw.

F. Ask the students to describe what is happening to the contaminates.

G. Finally, ask the students to give three ways to prevent contamination of groundwater.

A lesson idea provided by Terri K and UGA-Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.