Where Does the Rain Go?

Title: Where Does the Rain Go?
Description: Learn about where your water comes from and where it goes by creating your very own model of a watershed.
Season: All year
Length of Activity: 1 hour
Age: 4-adult
Button: Start the Activity

Where Does All the Rain Go?

When you turn on a faucet in your home, in most cases, water will flow out. But have you ever stopped to wonder where it all comes from?

Well, if you live in a city, it’s likely that your water comes from an above ground water source such as a lake or a river. If you live in the countryside you may get your water from a well or a pond.

Either way, our drinking water largely relies on the rain to keep water levels up and the way of the land plays a huge role!

Today we are going to learn how mountains, roads and housing play a role in conserving water and how you can begin contributing to better water conservation practices both inside and outside your door.

Supplies and Tools Needed:
● 1 large plastic tray or shallow tub, like a sweater-storage tub or lid to a large storage container lid.
● 4 tall plastic containers for example 16-oz. cups or soda bottles, oatmeal containers, milk bottles, etc.
● 1 large sheet of clear or light-colored plastic like a tarp, shower curtain, or cut-open garbage bag.
● 1 spray bottle
● 2 bottles of food coloring (in different colors)
● cooking oil
● glitter, spices, cake sprinkles, or other small particles to represent “litter”
● towels for cleaning up spills

Getting started

Step 1: To begin, engage your child in a conversation all about water. How have they used water today? How do they tend to use water on a daily basis? Who else uses water in their community? Where does the water that comes out of their sink come from?

Step 2: Make a list of all the different sources of water (ponds, creeks, lakes, rivers, wells, rain, melted snow, etc.) You can take this a step further by adding oceans to the mix and discussing whether or not sea water is, or could ever be, drinkable. For more information take a look at this clear explanation.

Step 3: Once you have guided some conversation, show your child the materials, and ask, “How might we use these materials to build a model landscape with hills, valleys, rivers, and lakes?“ Brainstorm for a few minutes, then build your model. Be sure to include an irregular mound with peaks, ridges, and valleys by draping a tarp or large plastic sheet over the containers.

Step 4: Ask your child what they think would happen if it rained.

Step 5: Using the spray bottle, make it rain by having your child spritz the model. What happens? Where does water accumulate? Can they find lakes and rivers? Where does the water flow from?

Step 6: Then, using the glitter, cooking oil, food coloring and cake sprinkles to represent pollution, begin experimenting. What happens to the water and it’s flow? If you sprinkle glitter into one of the rivers, where does it go if it “rains” (spraying more water on it). Where on the landscape does it not go?

Step 7: Discuss with your child what this all has to do with the water that comes out of their faucets.

Taking it Deeper

Let’s deepen our understanding of how this works in real-life! Get a bucket or a large pitcher and fill it up with water and pour it out on the driveway or along the curb. Where does it go? What kind of path does it follow? Is it carrying anything with it?
Now, pour water onto a non-paved area like a patch of grass. Where does the water go? Does it behave differently from the water you poured on the sidewalk?

You may want to consider deeper sources of pollution, like factories, farms and individuals, and how people can work together to keep pollution out of waterways.

Further Reading
The Environmental Protection Agency has a wonderful app that allows you to learn more about the quality of different waterways near you. Click here to check it out.

Further Watching
Here is a very informative video about watersheds and how they work.