Introduction to Hydropower – Build a Waterwheel – Teacher

Summary

The teacher guide for an activity where students design and build a working waterwheel using everyday materials, then test how much weight it can lift and analyze the energy transformation from water potential energy to mechanical motion. This guide covers the design phase, construction, testing, data collection, and an assessment rubric with student examples. Works well in Earth Science, EES, physics, or a general high school science course during an energy or engineering unit.