In the study of wind energy, scholars build a small windmill and observe how it transfers wind into mechanical energy. Learners will make connections to the previous lesson with concepts such as the creation of wind through convection.

Concepts

energy, wind, wind energy, windmills, mechanical energy, convection

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the following link for a wind map to help class members predict which areas should have the most wind turbines installed: http://hint.fm/wind/
• View this map of every wind farm in the United States to check predictions: https://eerscmap.usgs.gov/windfarm/

Classroom Considerations

• Fifth lesson in a 10-part energy series
• Requires some basic art materials and at least one box fan but preferably two

Pros

• Provides two pages of detailed background on wind energy including diagrams and photographs
• Engaging hands-on experiment allows scholars to alter and improve their windmill designs

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.6-8.4