Water STEM Activity: Design a Water Pipeline!
Post by Kristina Ohl
Posted: September 24, 2024
Your city needs your help! The city’s water tower is broken, and they need your team to quickly design a water tower that will provide water to two important buildings: the hospital and the school. Design a water tower to transport water to two buildings.
Water is one of the most vital resources on our planet, yet many students are unaware of the engineering marvels that ensure clean water reaches our taps daily. The water pipeline STEM challenge is an exciting way to introduce students to the crucial role of engineers in solving real-world problems while aligning with key educational standards.
Why Water Pipeline STEM?
Water scarcity is a growing global issue, and engineers play a pivotal role in creating solutions to ensure sustainable water distribution. By engaging students in the Water Pipeline STEM Challenge, you're not only teaching them the principles of engineering and design, but also fostering an awareness of global water issues.
For many students, the significance of infrastructure like water towers often goes unnoticed, even when it’s right in their backyard. Through this challenge, students can connect classroom learning with real-world structures they've seen every day, deepening their understanding and engagement. The excitement of exploring the inner workings of these systems, coupled with hands-on activities like pipeline design, turns abstract concepts into tangible experiences. This activity not only makes STEM learning relevant but also sparks curiosity about the engineering feats that ensure our access to clean water.
Water Pipeline Challenge Overview
The Water Pipeline STEM Challenge tasks students with designing and constructing a model pipeline system that efficiently transports water from one point to another, mimicking the real-life challenges engineers face when developing infrastructure. This hands-on activity encourages students to apply the engineering design process—from brainstorming and planning to building, testing, and refining their pipelines.
Students will:
Understand the Engineering Design Process
Explore concepts of fluid dynamics, pressure, and flow
Develop problem-solving and teamwork skills
Gain awareness of global water distribution challenges
Water Pipeline Challenge Details
To conduct the Water Pipeline STEM Challenge, you'll need the following materials. While many different materials can be used for this challenge, here are some suggestions that worked well for our students:
Plastic cups (avoid paper cups)
Cardboard
Cardstock
Modeling clay
Large straws (smoothie size)
Bendy straws
Popsicle sticks
Paper clips
Tape, scissors, ruler
Water
Towel for spills
Optional materials: food coloring (to visualize water flow), graph paper and pencils (for planning and designing)
This activity takes about three, 90-minute sessions to complete. It can be adapted to be a longer or shorter activity according to your classroom constraints. Below are more details on the lesson sequence:
Session 1
Kick off the lesson by asking, “What do you think is the purpose of a water tower? Why is it important for communities to store water this way?” Lead a discussion on the science behind water towers and their function. To build a deeper understanding, show a video that explains how water towers work.
Introduce the challenge: students will design a free-standing structure that can hold a cup of water. Water must flow through “pipes” to two separate buildings. Additionally, students will need to design a bypass so water can flow to just one building if needed. This challenge can be done individually or as a team activity, where groups work together to build a water tower. Provide time for students to explore the materials and brainstorm ideas.
Session 2
Start the second session by refreshing students' memory of the challenge and playing another video to inspire them—such as “Elevated Water Tower Inspection.” Remind them of the constraints and objectives for the challenge.
Students will then gather materials and begin constructing and testing their water pipelines. Below is an example of a student testing a water pipeline model. End the session a few minutes early to allow time for reflection, where students can assess their progress and consider any adjustments they might need to make.
Example of testing a water pipeline design.
Session 3
In the final session, ask each team to share their solutions and demonstrate how water moves from the tower to the buildings. Wrap up by providing time for students to reflect on their learning through independent writing or class discussion. Encourage them to think about what they’ve learned, including the challenges they faced and how they overcame them.
Additional Resources
To maximize the impact of this challenge, consider incorporating the following resources:
Want to implement this activity in your classroom or program? Check out our full teacher and student STEM guide here. This includes digital and printable engineering journals, STEM career connection worksheets, and helpful tips for implementation.
