Making a model waterfall can be a creative, exciting, and fun experience for your child when she needs a science, art or craft project for school, or just for entertainment at home. This project allows her to use her imagination and learn about real waterfalls. With the use of a combination of recycled objects and basic crafting materials, your child can make her own model waterfall simply and inexpensively.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaMix together equal parts of white glue and warm water in a large bowl.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaLay the cardboard sheet on a flat surface. Crunch up some paper towels into a ball and place them near the top of the cardboard.
Create the (almost) perfect bracket: Here's How
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Tear the newspaper into several large strips. Soak the strips in the glue mixture and wrap the pieces around the chunk of paper towels. Wrap about four layers, then let the glue dry until the surface is tacky but not slimy.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaContinue layering the glue-soaked newspaper, shaping it into a mountain-like structure with a dip in the top center. As you build the layers, crunch the newspaper slightly to give the mountain a rocky appearance.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaAdd pieces of glue-soaked newspaper to the piece of cardboard, creating a circular shape that reaches from the bottom of the mountain and outward to emulate a lake. Once finished, let the glue dry completely.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaPaint the outside of the newspaper and the exposed cardboard with brown acrylic paint. Let the paint dry.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaTear a long strip of blue plastic wrap and crinkle it. Squeeze some glue into the dip at the top of the mountain and crunch one end of the plastic wrap in the top. Let the plastic wrap hang down until it touches the bottom of the “lake.”
Andres Arango/Demand MediaBrush glue all over the bottom of the “lake.” Crinkle some blue plastic wrap into the lake bed to emulate water.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaTear a piece of clear plastic wrap and crinkle it. Glue it over the top of the blue plastic wrap to give the water a slicker look. Crinkle and glue clear plastic wrap over the lake.
Andres Arango/Demand MediaTear apart some cotton balls and glue the pieces around the bottom of the waterfall to give it the appearance of frothing water. Glue a few thin pieces of fluffed cotton to the hanging plastic wrap as well.
