Pinterest can be a dangerous thing! But I've found a project or two that have turned out pretty well.
For the Water Wall, I used several sources, including
this one.
Here are pix of our new water wall in action, along with some of my how-to's.
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Purchased: inexpensive trellis (WalMart)
and a 14' plastic gutter (Home Depot).
On hand: zip ties, duck tape, recycled bottles,
kitchen scissors, box cutter, drill, jig saw,
sandpaper and sander, plus nylon cord.
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BEFORE MOUNTING:
Measure and cut gutter to fit the space.
[We used a jig saw with a fine-toothed blade.]
Sand cut edges smooth.
Mark where holes will be drilled for zip ties; drill two holes for each point of attachment.
Zip-tie in place.
[Tie
at least one at a point where trellis wires cross. Keeps it from slipping.]
Once gutters are in place, play with the location of any plastic bottles you want to attach.
[I used a water bottle, a 'fancy' water bottle with small pill bottle attached, and a ketchup bottle with squeeze lid attached.]
Cut bottle bottoms off with scissors or box cutter; cover cut edges with duck tape.
Drill or punch holes in any bottles you want to "sprinkle."
No need to drill holes in bottles for attaching--secure them in place upside-down with long zip ties.
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Ping pong balls make a good float in a narrow bottle.
Put them in, pour in the water, and watch them pop back up.
An orange plastic pill bottle fits snugly; after drilling small holes in the bottom,
I glued it to the mouth of the narrow bottle. |
The clear plastic tubing's in place; haven't picked what kind of receptacle will go on the top of it yet.
After all the elements are attached, place the trellis in a plastic bin and secure it plumb and level. Strategically placed containers will help catch rolling objects and conserve water.
[This one is tied to a brick pillar with blue nylon cord.]
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Fun on a hot summer day includes my attempt
at water conservation--plastic pool and containers
to catch and recycle the water. |
Collect plastic cups, buckets, turkey basters--anything on hand to scoop and pour.
Bring in things that roll too--small balls, marbles, wood or plastic beads.
Color the water with food coloring if desired.
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| Experimenting with a ping pong ball |
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| Wow! It rolled all the way down. |
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| Cover cut edges of plastic bottles with duck tape. |
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For now, the water wall is tied in place with a cord.
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Change the features? You bet. I've already modified the angle of the gutters to slow things down.
No problem--just snip the zip ties and re-attach.
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It's fun for all ages.
Helps little ones do scientific experiments,
practice cooperation, and hone motor skills. |
