🧪
Experiment
Hand-Dug Well Percolation Test
Test how water drains through sand vs clay — why settlers dug wells in sand.
30 min Easy
📋 What You'll Need
- •2 clear cups or jars
- •Sand (from a beach or store)
- •Clay soil (from a yard or store)
- •Water
- •Timer or phone
👣 Step by Step
🔍 What to Observe
- •Which material drained fastest?
- •Which cup had clearer water at the bottom?
- •Why would settlers dig wells in sandy soil?
💡 Tips & Safety
- •Early Florida wells were hand-dug in sandy soil because sand filters water quickly.
- •Clay holds water but doesn't filter well — it stays muddy.
- •This is why old homesteads were often near sandy ridges.