Children can create thousands of different patterns of water flow on this one exhibit.  The many cascading water flows possible on this exhibit are rewarding to manipulate and beautiful to experience.  The exhibit as a whole provides an environment of experimentation that delights children.  They are using their minds.  Not just for a minute or two, but for long periods of time, without interruption.

Children can manipulate exhibit components throughout the activity area to re-direct flows of water, diverting them into two (2) water wheels, and my twin “Curved Deflection Chutes”, which divert the strong current arriving from the source (centered in the exhibit).  An especially popular activity is the ability to make a bridge out of the movable panels.  This bridge spans the lowest level of water flow.  Children can use the yellow movable panels for the bottom of the bridge, and also the sides, causing the water from the upper fountain to flow across the lower channel.  This bridge will increase the water available to drive the big water wheel.  After driving the big water wheel, this water will flow back underneath the bridge and then cascade beautifully into the lake.

The large water wheel is driven by the current of water flowing beneath it.  This large water wheel turns slowly unless the children cooperate with each other to direct much of this exhibit’s water towards it.  Throughout this exhibit, children are rewarded by increases of water flow when they work together.  Even when there is no common language between them, they quickly befriend one another in their shared pursuit.

This exhibit has 3 “levels” of water flow.  The highest level contains all of the sources of water, which are the center grate and the 2 fountains.  The middle, or “Aqueduct” level (about 1.5” lower) receives the water leaving the source level.  If children insert my blue moveable panels along this “Aqueduct’s” otherwise open side, they send water towards the large water wheel.  The lowest level flows below my “Curved Deflection Chutes”.

The small water wheel is driven by water passing over the top of it, rather than underneath it like the large water wheel.  A key lesson here is that not just the motion of the water is driving the small water wheel, but also gravity.  The weight of the water (held in the chambers of the small water wheel) continues to deliver force, rotating the wheel around and downward.  By capturing the water during it’s journey downhill, the small water wheel receives more energy, causing it to spin more rapidly than the large water wheel.  This Physics lesson is delivered without written text needing to be read.

My twin “Curved Deflection Chutes” have two dedicated handles, one on each side.  Children can move these handles to block off one or both of the “Curved Deflection Chutes”, trapping more water on the “Aqueduct” level.  This will instantly raise the “Aqueduct’s” water level and velocity.  When children allow water to flow out one or both sides of the “deflection chutes” without holding a handle closed, the water cascades down directly in front of them in a very dramatic and engaging way.

As in all of my water exhibits, this exhibit is self contained, and does not need to be connected to your building’s plumbing.  Every circulation, the water passes through filtration and chemical treatment and is warmed before it enters the activity area.

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