Be a Plumber

Add to list Go to activity
In this activity (located on page 6 of the PDF), learners explore the ways people access water in their homes. Learners investigate the way that water moves through a system and use problem solving skills to design a would-be working system. With pipe cleaners as "pipes," learners "install" a plumbing system in a "house" (diagram). Different color pipe cleaners are used to represent hot and cold water and drainage pipes, and learners must determine how to flow water to various fixtures in the building.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Structure
      • Oceans and Water
  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
    • Technology
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science as a Career
  • The Nature of Technology
    • Technology and Society
      • Impacts of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Problem Solving

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Chicago Children's Museum, 2008