Inside a Water Mill
1Long ago, many mills used water wheels to make flour. A mill is a building where grain is ground into powder. A water mill uses the power of a flowing stream to do the work.
2The stream pushes against flat boards on the wheel. These boards are called paddles. When the paddles are pushed, the whole wheel turns. A long pole runs through the middle of the wheel, and it turns too.
3Inside the mill, the turning pole spins a heavy round stone. Workers pour grain between this stone and another one underneath. The stones crush the grain into flour. The flour then falls into a bin.
Diagram: Inside a Water Mill (described in words)
The wall: A thick line is drawn up and down in the middle of the picture. The stream and the water wheel are outside the wall. The stones, the grain box, and the flour bin are inside the wall.
Arrow 1 points from the stream to the wheel. The flat boards on the wheel are labeled paddles.
Arrow 2 curves around the wheel. A line points to the long pole in the middle of the wheel. It is labeled axle, and it goes through the wall.
Arrow 3 curves around the top stone. The stone is labeled millstone. A box above the stones is labeled grain box.
Arrow 4 points down from the stones to a box. The box is labeled flour bin.
