Emily+and+Allison+Instructional+Plan

Can you catch the wind?

Inquiry Project: Engineering – Science – Technology- Mathematics

media type="custom" key="4108979" Introduction to the Project: This project was created for elementary students in 2nd through 5th grades. Through the completion of this project students will study the wind and its traits. They will discuss what the wind is by creating a Webspiration diagram and explore how wind can be caught by creating and engineering different tools that have wind catching capabilities. Creating a multimedia project using Voicethread, Primary Access, Windows Moviemaker, and/or Voki to take on the persona of the wind and discuss its traits and characteristics will demonstrate student knowledge and understanding.

Possible extenstions include further research and exploration into wind energy and wind farms. Students will also analyze the effects of the wind and how it can be used to create energy. Students will research the effects of wind energy and the implications wind energy tools can have on the geography and environment of a particular region. Then students will share their findings and position on the use of wind energy tools as an alternative energy source in a persuasive multimedia project using some of the media stated above.

//This project is designed to be completed in sections based on the grade level of the student. Lower grade classrooms are encouraged to complete the first two sections while upper grade classrooms are encouraged to complete the project in whole.//

Project Timeline : One month will be needed to complete this inquiry project in whole. Plan to spend about one week on each section or guiding question of the project.

//Guiding Question: What is wind?// · Define wind and how it is created  Knowledge/Assessment Project for the week : Students will take their observations they have recorded about the wind and compare their experiences in a windy and a non-windy environment using the online program [|Webspiration]. [|Model Student Example].
 * __Week One__**
 * 1) Complete a [|KWL] chart with students to identify the level of knowledge and understanding the students have about wind.
 * 2) Read a children's book that describes the wind and its traits:
 * Suggested books : Feel the Wind by Arthur Dorros, The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins, When the Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow
 * 1) Have students experience the wind by taking a walk outside on a windy day, feeling the air movement created by an air conditioner or a fan.
 * Have students observe and record how they see and feel the wind. Examples: leaves blowing on a tree, movement of blades of grass, clouds moving through the sky, air blowing on their face, etc.
 * 1) Complete the same experience as above in a non-wind environment.

//Guiding Question: Can we use the wind?// · Who uses wind and what for? What are the different jobs of the wind? airplanes, turbines, windmills, birds, sails, boats, etc.
 * __Week Two__**
 * 1) Introduce this week's idea by having students watch this video clip from [|United Streaming/Discovery Education]: [|Magic School Bus: Kicks up a Storm Clip] //(You will need a united streaming account to view the video online. If you are not signed up with United Streaming you can use portions from the original video to introduce this idea.)//
 * 2) Brainstorm with students about who/what uses wind. Collect a list of student ideas and answers to the questions; Who/what uses wind? What is the wind used for?

- Exploration Project: Students will explore their ideas about who/what uses the wind by creating a wind catching tool out of a group of given materials to test and answer the question : Can you catch the wind? Examples of wind catching tools that can be created are: sails, airplanes, birds, windmills, and turbines

In this instructional example, students will be creating a sail out of: (index cards, aluminum foil, or wax paper), popsicle sticks, tape, glue, scissors, and markers
 * Students can create their own sail, or they can collaborated and work in small groups to create a single sail.

__**//Student Instructions//**__: Create a sail to catch the wind. Your sail needs to be mounted on a single popsicle stick. You will insert your popsicle stick into the class "boat" to test its wind catching abilities. Be creative! Your sail can be any design you can imagine! Cut the piece of foamboard/cardboard into a 4" x 6" (doesn't have to be exact) rectangle. Attach two straws parallel to each other on the underside of the foamboard. Cut a slit the width of the popsicle stick in the center of the foamboard. Stretch and attach one end of the two pieces of fishing line between each straightback chair. Thread each fishing line through it's respective straw and attach the loose end of line to the second chair.
 * Student Guidelines:**
 * //__Instructions for constructing the class "boat"__//**: For the class the teacher will need to create one "boat" for testing the sails.
 * Materials you will need: string or fishing line, straws, one piece of foamboard or stiff cardboard, tape
 * //__To test the sails you will need__//**: a fan, two straightback chairs, two strings of fishing line cut line at least 36" long

Wind catching experiment:
 * 1) Have students complete discussion questions from EIE Lesson 3: [|EIE sail pages 3-1.TIF]. Students should also draw and label their design prior to testing sails. These questions require students to think through their material and design choices and predict successes. Have students (before testing their sail) predict how far the "boat" will travel with the use of their sail.
 * 2) Have students attach their sail to the boat one at a time. Place the boat at the starting end of the fishing line. Place the fan on a table (or fixed surface) next to the boat. Turn the fan on for 15 seconds. The speed of the fan does not matter as long as the speed chosen is constant throughout the experiment. Students will measure and record the distance the "boat" traveled on their data page. They also need to record the success of their sail and what they would change if they repeated this experiment.
 * 3) After testing their sail, students will complete post experiment questions to analyze their results. (a) What kind of sail worked best for catching the wind? Why? (b) Which kind of sail did not work well for catching the wind? Why not? (c) What could you do next to discover what other kinds of sail materials and shapes work well for catching wind? Explain or draw a picture with labels.
 * 4) After all students have completed their trial, discuss student conclusions and learning. Discussion Questions to ask include: Why do we get different results if we all used the same boat? Which sail design was most sucessful and why? Can you catch the wind?
 * 5) This wind catching experiment can also be completed with the other wind catching tools mentioned above (airplanes, birds, windmills, and turbines)

Guiding Question: Is wind used the same way in other areas of the world as it is in your country or region?
 * __Week Three__**

This week students will be collaborating with other students from different areas or regions of the world to discuss how wind is used in their culture. Ways for students to collaborate and collect information: 1. Write a letter to a friend or family member that lives in another part of the world. Ask them how wind is used in their area. 2. Use the online resource E-Pals to email a classroom in a different part of the world to ask them about how wind is used where they are located. 3. Complete an internet search on wind patterns and then find how those patterns are used in different regions of the globe. Knowledge/Assessment Project: Students will create a [|digital presentation] in which they will take on the persona of the wind and discuss its traits and capabilities. They will include information about how wind is used in the area they live as well as another area or region around the world. Media tools that could be used for this project include Voicethread, Primary Access, Windows Moviemaker, and Voki. Rubric: [|wind rubric.htm]

//Further Explorations and Extensions://__**
 * __Week 4
 * Can wind be used to create energy?
 * Why use wind as an energy source?
 * Extension: measuring the wind, how it can be converted or used for electricity or energy
 * What implications will installing windmills or other wind generating tools have on the geography and environment of the region?
 * Knowledge/Exploration Project : [|Wind Energy] - TrailFire Web Search
 * Have students internalize the scope of a windmill by having them actually measure out the length of one of the blades on the windmill.

__//Culminating AssessmentProject for Further Explorations and Extensions://__ Rubric: [|wind energy rubric.htm]
 * Create a persuasive argument to justify your position in building and using turbines or windmills as an alternative energy source. Media sources that can be used to state your position include RemixAmerica, Voki, Windows Moviemaker, and Voicethread.