For cool-off fun, try this one-of-a-kind outdoor activity made with recycled materials.
Photograph by David Roth
Looking for something a bit more engaging than running through the sprinkler? This wall-based (and drought-friendly) plaything lets kids arrange and rearrange the various repurposed bottles, funnels, and tubes, creating endless options for the cascade of water.
Photograph by David Roth
Use hooks or rope to hang a 24-inch by 5-foot piece of vinyl-coated hardware cloth. (Press it flat first.)
Wrap a rubber band around the neck of a funnel; insert it into a Pop Toob (see "What's That," below). Adjust the band for a tight connection.
Photograph by David Roth
Use a serrated knife or strong scissors (an adult's job) to cut bottoms from plastic bottles, either straight across or at an angle.
Use a cap with a small opening to slow water flow. Or, make a hole in a regular cap with a nail.
Photograph by David Roth
Hang smaller sections with large paper clips bent into hooks.
Use sections of pool noodle (cut it with a serrated knife; an adult's job) to connect Pop Toobs and bottles. Hang larger items with Velcro plant ties.
What's That? Find vinyl-coated hardware cloth (about $13 a roll) and Velcro plant ties at home improvement stores. Pop Toobs are sold at toy stores for about $3 each.
Tip: Place a watering can at the bottom to catch the water; use another to pour water into the top.
Originally published in the June/July 2013 issue of FamilyFun
