Collect Rainwater (an Adult Boils It)
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What you will learn
- 1Explain why rainwater is still treated before drinking
- 2Set out a clean container or a sloped sheet to catch rain
- 3Keep collected water covered and clean
- 4Leave the boiling to an adult and stay away from the hot pot
Mini Lesson
Rain is one of the cleanest kinds of water you can find in the wild. But on its way down, it can pick up dirt and germs from roofs, leaves, and dirty containers. So rainwater is still made safe before anyone drinks it. You catch the rain. An adult boils it.
🌿 The Wild Way (catch it clean, an adult boils it)
- START CLEAN: use a clean container, like a washed pot or bucket.
- CATCH MORE: tie a tarp or sheet so it slopes down into the container. The rain runs off it and in.
- PICK THE SPOT: set it out under the open sky, away from roofs, gutters, and animal droppings.
- COVER IT: once the rain stops, put a lid or cloth over the water to keep out bugs, leaves, and dirt.
- AN ADULT CLEANS IT: an adult pours the water through a clean cloth to catch bits and bugs.
- AN ADULT BOILS IT: an adult brings it to a rolling boil, then lets it cool before pouring it into a clean bottle.
An adult is always in charge of boiling water. You never touch the hot pot or the fire, and you stay well back while it boils and cools. Never drink rainwater that has not been boiled by an adult - even if it looks clean.
Words to know
rainwater
Water caught from the rain as it falls.
e.g. We caught rainwater in a clean bucket.
container
Something that holds water, like a pot, bucket, or bottle.
e.g. I washed the container before the rain came.
tarp
A big, strong sheet that can catch rain or make a roof.
e.g. The rain ran down the tarp into the pot.
germs
Tiny living things, too small to see, that can make you sick.
e.g. Boiling helps make water safe from germs.
rolling boil
Water bubbling hard, with big bubbles that keep coming. Only an adult does this.
e.g. Mom brought the water to a rolling boil.
cover
To put a lid or cloth over something to keep dirt out.
e.g. Cover the water so leaves cannot fall in.
🧠 Survivor’s Trick: a sheet catches far more rain than a pot alone. Tie it a little lower at one end so all the rain runs down into your container.
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