Page 1 of 8
Part 1
Nina built a small water wheel for the garden table. She poured water above it, but the wheel barely turned.
Listen to this page
← Back to the collectionStory illustration Keep exploring
A story to share
Nina and the Leaky Water Wheel
Find a cozy spot. Read together. Pause for the good questions.
8 pages to explore
Read the complete storyAll 8 pages together · text edition
Nina and the Leaky Water Wheel
Read aloud, take turns, or pause for a question. The illustrated page-by-page reader is above.
Page 1
Part 1
Nina built a small water wheel for the garden table. She poured water above it, but the wheel barely turned.
Page 2
Part 2
Most water splashed around the sides instead of landing on the paddles. Nina placed a towel under the table and watched carefully.
Page 3
Part 3
Her first idea was to pour faster. The bigger splash made a mess, while the wheel moved only a tiny bit.
Page 4
Part 4
Nina rolled waterproof paper into a narrow spout. The spout guided one steady stream toward the top paddle.
Page 5
Part 5
The wheel turned halfway, then stopped. Nina found one paddle hanging loose, and an adult helped her fasten it with waterproof tape.
Page 6
Part 6
She poured the same cup of water through the spout again. This time, each paddle caught the stream and pushed the wheel onward.
Page 7
Part 7
Nina counted seven full turns. She marked the best spout position with tape so she could repeat the test later.
Page 8
Part 8
Nina learned to change one part, observe the result, and test again. Less splashing gave the water more useful pushing power.
What will you try next?
Read each question together. Choose the answer that matches the story.
Try the story activity Guess Galaxy on YouTube
Make it story time.
Enjoy the video version of this story, then talk about your favorite part.
Watch on YouTube Opens YouTube in a new tab.