Another fun way for smaller kids to see the wind in action is to make their own pinwheels.
1) Start with a square piece of paper at least 4 x 4 in. Paper with different colors or designs on each side will make your pinwheel pop! Encourage your kids to decorate each side differently.
2) Draw diagonal lines from each corner of your square and mark a dot in the middle. Cut along diagonal line to about an inch from the center dot.
3) Mark 4 dots it the bottom right corner of each triangle of your square.
4) Work in a circle folding each dotted corner into the center of the square. Push a pin through each corner and the center dot.
5) Push the pin through the head of an eraser on a pencil or a straw and Wa La!… you have your pinwheel!
Now you’re ready to go outside and see where it spins best. Ask your kids if it spins better close to the ground or over their heads. Do larger pinwheels spin faster than smaller pinwheels?
If you have older kids, check out this lesson plan on designing wind turbines. Kids learn about how the competing forces of lift and drag work to make turbine blades spin. Your students can then design their own turbine blades. KidWind even holds national and web-based competitions for new turbine designs. Check it out here.
Also, if you are interested in helping other educators teach about wind, you should consider applying to become a WindSenator. Wind Senators help spread the word about wind energy by holding workshops, KidWind Challenges, and regional events.
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