STEAM – WEEK 1
WIND
C1/C2 – Read a book about wind from the library. Discuss how you can see the wind blowing
without being outside. Go look outside the window and have children provide observations
about what the wind is blowing. Discuss how to feel the wind and what happens when the
wind blows. Go outside, close their eyes and describe how the wind felt (hair blows, clothes
blow, etc.).
Project will be to make a tree and blow brown paint for the trunk of the tree with straws (using
small, regular straw) and a Boba straw. Start with a blob of brown tempera (thick) paint in the
middle of a piece of sketch paper. Have kids start with the small straw. After a couple of
minutes, ask if it seems hard or easy. Then, hand each child a Boba straw. After a couple of
minutes, ask them which one is easier and which one they would like to use to continue making
their tree trunk and why. Have them continue making the trunk and branches with the brown
paint. Once trunk is developed, have kids make their trees (leaves, fruit, etc.) with crumbled up
tissue paper.
Art Sketch Paper
Brown tempera paint
Regular Straws
Boba Straws
Tissue Paper
Small cups for water to rinse brush
C2 – KWL Chart. Read more from the book about wind, from the library, and how it blows in
various directions. Wind speed and direction can change instantaneously. Why is it important
to know the speed/strength of the wind and the direction? (i.e. landing an airplane, sailing a sail
boat). How does wind speed/strength and direction affect a moving vehicle? What are some
items that can allow us to see wind speed and direction? (weathervane, windsock).
With a windsock: When the windsock is filled with air, the wind is blowing strongly and vice
versa for when the wind isn’t blowing very strongly. The windsock will turn and point in the
direction that the wind is blowing. Show a video of a windsock on a runway.
With a weathervane: When the wind is blowing from one direction, the weathervane will turn
and point in the direction that the wind is blowing. When a storm is brewing, the weathervane
will spin. Show a video of weathervane.
Project is to design a windsock and decorate it.
http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/windsock.html
Supplies needed:
Gluesticks
Construction paper, full sheets
Tissue paper, cut into strips
Yarn
Single hole punch
C3 – Begin class discussing how the wind can be harnessed to create energy. An efficient way
to harness wind energy is with a windmill and windmill farms. Show a video clip of a windmill
farm. Brainstorm, as a class, and discuss pros and cons of wind energy. Each child should write
down the pros and cons on their own paper. Each child should make a determination if the
pros outweigh the cons (teacher prompting). With class discussion, how many windmills does it
take to run a building? How much wind power is used to replaced electrically created energy at
a power plant?
Project is to make a windmill (essentially a pinwheel).
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.engin.design.lp_windmill/windmillsputting-wind-energy-to-work/
Supplies needed:
Windmill Worksheet (PDF) handout (PDF)
Windmill Template (PDF) handout (PDF)
sheets of plain paper, 8 1/2 in. x 11 in. (22 cm x 28 cm)
sheets of construction paper, 8 1/2 in. x 11 in. (22 cm x 28 cm) (if students want to make
different-colored windmills)
pencils or a single hole punch
scissors
straws
rubber bands
string