The Irrigation Channel

In pairs, children hold sections of gutter and roll "water drops" (tennis balls) from one to the next until they reach the bucket by the plant, like water flowing through an irrigation channel. They practice hand-eye coordination, finding the right tilt, and cooperating in a chain.

How to play

1. Explain that on farms, water reaches plants through channels that run downhill; our drops will be tennis balls (2 min).
2. In pairs, holding one gutter piece between two, try rolling the drop from one end to the other with a gentle tilt (2 min).
3. Join several pairs in a line: the drop rolls from one channel to the next until it lands in the bucket by the plant (3 min).
4. Moving channel: once the drop has passed through your section, hurry to the end of the line to make it longer and reach the real plant (3 min).
5. The whole group makes one long channel and sends several drops through, one after another (2 min).

Rules

• Tilt the channel just a little so the drop doesn't bounce out.
• Wait for the drop to arrive before moving your channel.
• If a drop falls, pick it up and start again from where it fell.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child holds one end of the channel resting on their tray or lap and is the fixed last spot by the bucket.
• Visual impairment: put a bell ball in a mesh bag so they can hear where the drop is.
• More coordination: run one section over a bench or chair, like a little aqueduct.

Learning goals

• Control the tilt of an object with both hands.
• Track a rolling object with the eyes.
• Work with others to bring water to the plant.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Short plastic gutter pieces: 12
• Tennis balls: 10
• Bucket: 1

Teacher tip

Hardware-store plastic gutter cut into 3-foot sections with smoothed edges works, or thick cardboard tubes cut in half. Tennis balls are safer than ping-pong balls at this age; at the end, water the plant with real water.

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