Hydro Tasmania - Water Wheel

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

Foundation and Years 1 & 2 Design and Technologies:

• Explore how technologies use forces to create movement in products (ACTDEK002)

Year 2 Science:

• Earth’s resources, including water, are used in a variety of ways (ACSSU032)
• Science involves asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events (ACSHE034)

Syllabus outcomes: ST1-8ES, ST1-9ES, ST1-4WS

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – oversee activity and lead or assist in construction of water wheel

• Cool Australia’s How to Make a Water Wheel Instruction Sheet
• Waterwheel image
• Two circles of cardboard of the same size, at least 15cm in diameter
• Some small plastic or cardboard cups of the same size (number will depend on the size of your cardboard circles and the size of your cups)
• Stapler and staples or masking tape
• Bucket or trough
• Long stick long enough to comfortably rest across the bucket or trough

This lesson has been developed in partnership with  
Hydro Tasmania.

Hydro Tasmania has been at the forefront of clean energy innovation for one hundred years. It is Australia’s largest producer of clean energy – generating hydro and wind power – and the largest water manager. Hydro Tasmania has 55 major dams, operates 30 hydropower stations and has built some of Australia’s largest wind farms.

Hydro Tasmania also sells energy in the National Electricity Market through its retail business Momentum Energy, and sells its expertise internationally through its consulting business Entura.

Visit the Hydro Tasmania website to learn how the business is working towards Australia’s clean energy future.