Draw a 3-inch circle on a piece of cardboard using a protractor. Use scissors to cut the circle out.
Punch a hole in the center of the cardboard circle using a pencil. Insert a straw through the hole.
Staple three cups at even intervals along the outside edge of the cardboard circle. Be sure all cups are facing the same direction. This will create your water wheel that is now ready to generate energy.
Hold both sides of the straw to support the wheel. Gently hold the wheel underneath a faucet of slow moving water, allowing the water to pour into the cups. The wheel should begin to spin demonstrating a change from potential energy, or stored energy, into kinetic energy, which is energy in motion.