Make Streams

Materials

• a sloping area of blacktop or dirt
• water containers (plastic buckets, bottles, and cups)
• digging tools and sticks
• clipboards, paper, and markers
• garden hose
• camera

Key Science Concepts

• Water behaves differently on different surfaces.
• Some surfaces absorb water; some don’t.
• Water flows downhill.

Vocabulary

Encourage children to use words related to water such as pour, squirt, flow, splash, absorb, shape, and science process words such as observe, notice, compare, same, different, change, test, and predict.

Directions

Tell children they will make streams of flowing water, on blacktop or in the dirt.  

1. Bring children to a sloping area of dirt or blacktop and have them work in pairs.
2. Demonstrate how to make a stream by pouring water from a container or a hose. Ask,
   • Which way do you think the water will flow? Pour the water so that you get a slow stream.
   • Was your prediction right? Why do you think the water flows in that direction? Stop pouring.
   • If we start pouring again, will the water follow the same path? Why do you think so? Start pouring again.
   • Did the stream run farther this time?

3. Then have the pairs of children make their own streams. Invite them to use the sticks and other digging materials to help make the water flow. Challenge them to make the stream flow as far as possible.
4. Take photos or videos of the streams, which you can look at together later.

Reflect and Share

Ask questions such as,

• What did you do to make a stream?
• Did you use any of the tools or sticks to help make your stream?  How did that help you make your stream?
• What did you do to make the stream flow even farther?
• Did you notice any places where the water slows down or speeds up? Why do you think that happens? 

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