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Notes for teachers

This lesson takes place in a classroom for one or more hours.
Students are working with their assigned group or table group.
An emphasis on how the tower is constructed and using all components needed for the wind turbine blades.
Directions for the towers are in the Kidwind Kit.

List of Materials

Base plate: The base plate is the foundation for the wind turbine and supports the rest of the components.
Tower: The tower holds up the gearbox and the rotor assembly.
Gearbox: The gearbox is the part of the wind turbine that steps up the rotational energy of the rotor into rotational energy in the generator.
Hub: The hub connects the blades to the rotor.
Blades: The blades capture the wind and turn the rotor.
Generator: The generator converts the rotational energy of the rotor into electrical energy.
Multimeter: The multimeter is a measuring device that is used to measure the voltage and current generated by the wind turbine.
Wires: Wires are used to connect the generator to the multimeter.
Nacelle: The nacelle is the cover that goes over the gearbox and generator to protect them from the weather.
Screws, bolts, and nuts: These are used to connect the various components together.

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Standards

Science Standard

6.P4U2.5: Analyze how humans use technology to store (potential) and/or use (kinetic) energy.

Core Idea

U2: The knowledge produced by science is used in engineering and technologies to solve problems and/or create products.

NGSS Standards

MS-ETS1-4 Engineering Design

Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved

MS-PS3-2 Energy

Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system

Arizona Science and Engineering Practice

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
use mathematics and computational thinking
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Objectives:

Today I am going to learn about electricity generation.

Today I am going to use scientific inquiry when building the wind turbine tower with all the components.

Today I am going to use the engineering design process to create turbine blades and test them.

Today I am going to test my blades to generate electricity and measure the amount using a multimeter.

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Agenda (One Class Period)

Construct/Engineer Wind Turbine Tower-Kidwind Kit Instructions
Connect your blades with the hub
Test your wind turbine (Fan)

Record voltage (Multimeter)

Test your wind turbine (solar panel)

Record Voltage (Multimeter)

Closure: Discuss Results

What group’s blade design had the most voltage?
Why do you think their blades spun faster?

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How much energy (voltage) will your wind turbine generate?

After you construct your wind turbine tower and connect the generator and wiring. You will measure the voltage using a fan and using the solar panels.

Think of the blades you constructed and now putting it altogether.

Will your blades survive the fan/wind speed?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Grouping 3-4 and should be same group from previous lessons
Gather materials: The KidWind kit should include all the necessary materials and tools needed to build the wind turbine. Make sure you have everything you need before starting.
Assemble the base: Follow the instructions provided with the kit to assemble the base of the wind turbine. This will typically involve connecting the tower, base plate, and support struts.
Install the gearbox: The gearbox is the part of the wind turbine that converts the rotational energy of the rotor into electrical energy. Follow the instructions to install the gearbox onto the top of the tower.
Add the hub and blades: The hub is the part that connects the blades to the rotor. Attach the hub to the gearbox and then attach the blades to the hub. The blades should be angled in a way that allows them to capture the wind and turn the rotor.
Connect the wires: The KidWind kit should include wires for connecting the generator to a multimeter or other measuring device. Follow the instructions to connect the wires to the generator and the multimeter.

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Assessment- Multimeter

Fan: Speed 1, Speed 2, Speed 3

Test the wind turbine: Place the wind turbine in an area with good wind flow (in front of a fan) and turn the fan on. Use the multimeter to measure the voltage and current (optional) generated by the wind turbine.

Students will reflect on the project and what they learned.

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Closure:

What group’s wind turbine had the most voltage?

Why do you think their blades spun faster?

Reflect: What would you have done differently? Did your voltage have a negative or positive number? What did this number mean?

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Differentiation

Troubleshooting: If the wind turbine did not generate as much electricity as expected, students can work together to identify potential problems and develop solutions. For example, they may need to adjust the blade angle, add weight to the base to make it more stable, or make other modifications to optimize the design.

Reflective writing: Students can write reflections on their experience building the wind turbine, discussing what they learned, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them. They can also reflect on how the wind turbine project connects to larger issues such as renewable energy, climate change, and sustainable development.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

To extend the learning, students can research additional topics related to wind energy, such as different types of wind turbines, wind energy policies and regulations, or the history of wind energy. They could also design and build additional wind turbines with different blade shapes or sizes to see how they compare to their original design.

Data analysis: After building and testing the wind turbine, students can analyze the data they collected to determine how much voltage and current was generated by their turbine. They can compare their results to other groups in the class or to the specifications provided by KidWind. This can be a good opportunity to discuss data analysis and interpretation.