Design a flood barrier
Engineers solve problems with the design process: ask, imagine, plan, build, test and improve. Our problem: how can we make a barrier that keeps water away from a toy house? Ask: what must the barrier do? Imagine: think of three different ideas, such as a wall of clay, a wall of stones or a roll of cloth. Plan: choose the best idea, draw it with labels and list the materials. Build: make a small model. Test: with a grown-up, outdoors or over a big tray, slowly pour one cup of water down a sloping tray towards the barrier. Keep the test fair: use the same amount of water, the same slope and the same pouring time each time. Count in spoonfuls how much water gets past. Improve: look at what worked and what did not, change one thing and test again. Then write a letter to the community to say what you learned and what advice you can give. Stay safe: use only water and safe materials, keep electricity away from water, and never play near real flood water.
| Idea | Material | Why it might work |
|---|---|---|
| 1 wall | clay | sticks together without gaps |
| 2 wall | stones | heavy, but has gaps |
| 3 roll | cloth | soaks up some water |
Design and test a flood barrier, with a grown-up. Draw three ideas and choose one. List the materials, then build a small model on a sloping tray in front of a toy house. Pour one cup of water slowly, from the same height, each time. Count the spoonfuls that get past. Improve one thing and test again. Record both results in a table. Then write a short letter to the community with your advice. Use only water and safe materials.