Parshat Chayei Sarah Project, Activities, and Crafts

In this week's parasha, Avraham sends Eliezer to Charan to find a suitable wife for Avraham's son Yitzchak. Eliezer is sent on his way with a caravan of camels and gifts for the future bride. While in Charan, Eliezer asks  G-d to send him a woman who would not only fetch water for him when he asks for it, but fetch water for his camels as well. Rivkah does this for Eliezer and is chosen to marry Yitzchak. Yitzchak falls in love with her and they marry.

Since the well is a significant part of the parasha, we did a little science lesson on wells.
Considering I knew nothing about natural wells, I did some research and found out that well water comes from aquifers.
"An aquifer fills with water from rain or melted snow that drains into the ground. In some areas, the water passes through the soil on top of the aquifer; in others, it enters through joints and cracks in rocks. The water moves downward until it meets less permeable rock. 

Aquifers act as reservoirs for groundwater. Water from aquifers sometimes flows out in springs. Wells drilled into aquifers provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industrial uses. Aquifers can dry up when people drain them faster than nature can refill them. Because aquifers fill with water that drains from the surface of the Earth, they can be contaminated by any chemical or toxic substance found on the surface". (National Geographic)

Photo Source

So now I have a basic understanding of it, but how will my preschooler? Well have no fear
The Incredible Edible Aquifer is here:

Photo Source

 Here is the recipe I got from this site to make my own edible aquifer:

Edible Treat                                  Corresponding Layer of Earth

Bottom of cup (not edible).........................Bedrock

Ice, Sprite, & blue dye...............................Lower Aquifer

Ice Cream..................................................Confining Layer

Ice..............................................................Upper Aquifer

Chocolate Cookie Crumbs.......................Soil

Green Sprinkles........................................Plant Life

Straws.........................................................Well Casing

Your Mouth................................................Well Pump

I explained the lower aquifer as being rocks that water can go through. My daughter was able to see this happen as I poured the soda over the ice. I told her the next layer (ice cream) was like clay and the upper aquifer was more rock that water can go through. The cookies are the  dirt, the green sprinkles are plants and your mouth is the pump pulling up the well water.

For those who are a little more handy, you may want to try making this functional well I found via Parsha Projects which was originally posted on Inna's Creations:

Photo taken with permission from Inna's Creations
Check out her site for a full set of directions

We continued our parasha study with role playing.

 We used a toy camel, a treasure chest full of jewelry and a homemade well made from popsicle sticks and a toilet paper roll.

We made some jewelry using fruit loops and a pipe cleaner (inspired by Meaningful Mama)