Arthur and Bella plan a tabletop model canal in shallow blue water tray. ONE little wooden boat waits below miniature model lock with TWO sliding gates. Ms Page nearby. Dry classroom table with water jug and towel. Only a small model, no full-size canal or boats.

Arthur’s Canal Lock

School Readers · Level 16

Arthur and Bella are making a model canal in technology class. Their little cargo boat must travel from a low section of water to a higher one. Ms Page has helped them make a small lock between the two sections. Arthur cannot wait to test it.

Tabletop miniature canal ONLY Arthur opens TWO sliding model gates water spills from upper section into blue tray Bella catches ONE little wooden boat teacher nearby towel on table.

He opens both model gates and pushes the boat forward. Water rushes out of the higher section, leaving the boat stuck against the edge. Bella catches the boat before its cargo falls. Arthur looks at their wet table. His first plan has not worked at all.

Arthur Bella Ms Page dry classroom table with towel model canal blue tray boat beside small lock chamber two gates Ms Page asks question.

Ms Page brings a towel, and they dry the table together. “What needs to happen to the boat?” she asks. Arthur points to the higher water. “It needs to rise.” Bella looks at the little space between the gates. “Could we raise it in there?”

Boat INSIDE small model lock chamber BOTH gates CLOSED Arthur pours water slowly from small jug Bella holds measuring strip at chamber side teacher supervises tabletop.

They put the boat inside the lock and close both gates. Bella holds a measuring strip beside the wall. Arthur slowly adds water from a jug. As the water rises, the boat floats higher too. He stops pouring when Bella says the levels look the same.

Arthur Bella compare equal water levels across upper sliding model gate teacher adjusts small gate boat floating level with upper canal water tabletop model.

Arthur wants to open the next gate straight away, but Bella checks the water on both sides first. It is almost level. Ms Page helps them make one small adjustment. This time, the boat can pass into the higher section without being pushed up a step.

Arthur removes small wooden cargo boat from model tray and spreads exactly THREE wooden block cargo pieces evenly Bella resets two model lock gates teacher nearby.

Now they try the journey with three wooden blocks on the boat. One block slips when Arthur turns it near the gate. He takes the boat out and spreads the cargo more evenly. Bella resets the lock while he checks that the blocks are steady.

ONE wooden boat carrying THREE blocks floats into upper model canal after lock water raised Arthur Bella pleased Ms Page watches tabletop miniature only.

Their next test goes slowly. They close the gates, raise the water and check the levels before moving on. The boat reaches the upper section with every block still aboard. Arthur gives Bella a quiet cheer. Their small canal finally has a working route.

Arthur draws simple model stages on paper Bella puts measuring strip beside wooden boat model canal in shallow blue tray teacher nearby classroom.

Before they empty the model, Arthur draws the stages on their plan. He adds a pause beside each gate, where they must stop and check. Bella keeps the measuring strip with the boat. They have learned to check each stage, not just the start and finish.

Arthur’s Canal Lock

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