River power

Topics Year 2/3
This unit is part of Mountains, Rivers and Coasts Rivers for People

Objectives

Geography

  • Describe and understand key aspects of: physical geography including rivers, human geography including, settlement, land use and the distribution of water.

D&T

  • Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately.
  • Select and use a wider range of materials and components … according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

Lesson Planning

Learn about different types of waterpower including hydroelectric power stations; investigate traditional waterwheels and then design and make a waterwheel using recycled packaging.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To understand the importance of rivers for people and to name some different ways that people use rivers.
  • To understand the technology behind a traditional water mill and use this knowledge to design and make a model waterwheel.

Children will:

  • Learn about the different types of water power including hydroelectric power stations.
  • Learn how water drove a traditional waterwheel to create power to drive machinery.
  • Design and make a waterwheel using recycled packaging, testing and refining it during the making process.

Provided Resources

  • How and water mill works
  • Making a model of a water mill

You Will Need

  • A large selection of clean recycled packaging
  • Large plastic, metal or cardboard cylinders
  • Cardboard boxes of various sizes
  • Egg boxes, aluminium cases, small containers
  • 5mm Wooden dowelling
  • 5mm plastic tubing
  • A bradawl or similar sharp tool
  • Junior hacksaws and bench hooks
  • Split pins
  • Lumps of plasticine or sticky tack
  • Jugs of fine, dry sand
  • A large tray
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks.