Build an Aqueduct

Jan 21, 202130 min activity

While in Rome, Andy uses spare materials to build an aqueduct just like the ancient Romans! Ancient aqueducts were used to transport water over great distances by using gravity and keeping water sources high.

Help your child build an aqueduct at home to learn a little about ancient engineering while repurposing recyclable materials! Encourage your child to look for creative solutions while they build. In the end, are you able to build an aqueduct as Andy wanted in Let’s Go Luna?

Materials

Directions

To get started, help your child cut the paper towel tubes in half lengthwise. Set the paper towel tube halves aside.

Let’s create some arches! Help your child disassemble a cereal box and cut off the flaps and short ends so the box creates a rectangle when laid flat on a table.

Invite your child to draw matching arches on both of the larger sides of the box and cut them out. You might try drawing one arch yourself and have your child make their own on the other side. Both arches should slightly decrease in size, leaving about 1 inch of space between the edge of the box and the top of the tallest arch. Keep in mind that the difference in height between your first and last arch will determine the angle of your aqueduct path.

Cut out the arches so that they remain connected to the middle and top of the cereal box.

Staple or glue the paper towel tube to the inside of the box, just above the top. Staple or glue the other side of the paper towel tube to the other side of the box.

Repeat the process with another set of paper towel tubes and a cereal box. This time, adjust the height and angle of your arches. By creating a few aqueduct parts of varying heights and angles, you can create a complex system that can move everything from water to toy cars!

Waterproof your aqueduct by lining your paper towel tubes with parchment paper or tin foil. Place a bowl at the end of the aqueduct to catch the water that you send through the tubes!