Each group needs:

• graduated cylinder
• 4 medium empty steel soup cans with tops and bottoms removed (ask students to bring some from home)
• gravel (enough to fill one soup can 3/4 of the way up)
• sand (enough to fill one can 3/4 of the way up)
• soil (enough to fill one can 3/4 of the way up)
• marbles (enough to fill one can 3/4 of the way up)
• 4 pieces of cheesecloth, cut into squares large enough to cover the bottom of a can plus a little extra
• 4 large rubber bands (big enough to go around a can)
• medium size mixing bowl or small bucket to catch water

To share with the entire class:

• water and sink/drain
• can opener, for the teacher to prepare the soup cans
• extra can, rubber bands, tape/hook, bucket/tray and cheese cloth, for teacher demonstration