Hydraulics are a reliable means to magnify and transfer forces from one place to another and historically found their way into many machines, some still to this day such as mechanical excavators and car brake systems. These activities encourage children to think about how what they are looking at works and give a grounding to an inquisitive mind to understand how many things we take for granted work.
STEM hydraulics
STEM surrounds us in our daily lives, simple forces such as push and pull can be utilised for our own means. Using often simple machines or ideas we can manipulate forces to make tasks easier.
Download free learning resources
Hydraulics Activity Plan
Use this activity plan to guide children's learning about hydraulics.
Build a Canal
Play the game to gain an understanding of the challenges facing the canal builders.
Anderton Boat Lift Fact File
Read all about the Anderton Boat Lift, a giant example of hydraulics and Victorian engineering.
Understanding Hydraulics
An introduction to hydraulics with simple experiments you can do yourself.
LEGO Boat Lift
Have a go at building a mini LEGO Anderton Boat Lift. Follow along with this film or come up with your own design.
Anderton Boat Lift - Northwich
Information on school and group visits to Anderton Boat Lift
Last Edited: 8 January 2026