Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Challenge the youth to design and build a device that catches simulated rain and funnels it into a small container.

Items Needed:

• Cardboard, foam board, or a plastic container
• Straws, skewers, or pipe cleaners
• Tape or glue
• Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or cardboard
• Scissors
• Small container or bowl
• Spray bottle or running water from a sink faucet

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 25–35 min):

Note: Provide only the challenge and supplies to the youth so they can create their own designs, using the steps below merely as a guide to offer hints if they get stuck.

1. Build the frame. (10 min)
   • Use a base material and structural items to create a framework that directs water.
2. Create the water collector. (5–10 min)
   • Design a surface using foil, plastic wrap, or cardboard to capture water and channel it downward.
   • Use tape or glue to hold everything in place and make their structure sturdy.
3. Test the device. (2–5 min)
   • Use the spray bottle to mist water above the device to simulate rain and observe how well it collects water or run a thin stream of water onto the device in the sink.
   • (Optional) Measure how much water is in the water bottle before and after the test. Then measure how much water was collected to see how efficient the device is.
4. (Optional) Adjust and improve. (5 min)
   • Encourage them to modify their structure and materials as needed to collect water more efficiently.

Step-by-Step Tutorials:

• Alternate Instructions: Water Collection by Curiosity Machine
• Alternate Instructions: Water Collection Device Video by Lakes and Pines Council

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