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Library > Science & Technology

World 2

2009
Windmill Projects Checklist How can we take better care of the world and its resources? What are potential future sources of renewable energy? How do they work? What advantages and challenges do they pose? What hurdles must be overcome before they are considered viable? Students will study and build wind turbines as they explore the answers to these questions. They will use wind to generate electricity. They will experiment with different blade designs to achieve maximum efficiency and power. They will wire multiple wind generators in series and in parallel. CA Content Standards (Physical Sciences) 1. Energy from the Sun heats Earth unevenly, causing air movements that result in changing weather patterns. As a basis for understanding this concept 2. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. 3.Students know electrical energy can be converted to heat, light, and motion CA Content Standards (Language Arts) 1. Structural Features of Informational Materials: Understand how text features (e.g., format, graphics, sequence, diagrams, illustrations, charts, maps) make information accessible and usable. 2. Structural Features of Informational Materials: Analyze text that is organized in sequential or chronological order. 3. WRITING STRATEGIES: Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits the students’ awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed. 4. Research and Technology: Use organizational features of printed text (e.g., citations, end notes, bibliographic references) to locate relevant information. 5. Evaluation and Revision: Edit and revise manuscripts to improve the meaning and focus of writing by adding, deleting, consolidating, clarifying, and rearranging words and sentences. Required Resources: Need.org Kidwind.org Solarworld.com wikipedia discovery learning (United Streaming) Captain Hydro Required Assignments – Detailed rubrics can be found on Mr. Competition’s Page. 1. Where Does Wind Come From? - Essay 2. What Tools do we use to Measure Wind? -Essay 3. Wind Machine Timeline – Graphic Timeline 4. Pros and Cons to Wind Energy - Essay 5. How do Windmills Convert Wind into Electricity? – Summary of an Article 6. How Will You Design Your Blades? – Lab Experiment Optional Assignments 1. Windmill Art - Collage 2. Wind Circuits Diagram– Mindmap 3. Surveys – Blade Design Etc… 4. Chronological PowerPoint - Instruction Manual 5. Power Output - Graphing 6. Ratios – Gearing Students who participate in this project will have a clearer picture of the challenges and potential benefits to exploring and utilizing alternative energies. They will discover that energy and electricity are not synonymous, and that many forms of energy are all around us. Burning fossil fuels is not necessarily the best way to convert those many forms of energy into electricity. Students will learn 4th and 5th grade contents standards in an authentic, project based, environment. They will feel empowered to address the question, “How can we take better care of our world and its resources?”

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Team

JaidaSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


NyssaSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


AngelinaSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


CristianSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


AngelSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


ZacharySATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


Age Range

12 & under

Coaches

Narrative CompetitionSATICOY ELEMENTARY, CA, United States


Category

Science & Technology > Physical Science > Electricity

Audience

All ages

Language

English

Team Collaboration

Collaboration

We faced many hardships during this competition

It was hard completing this competition, we had successes and failures, but we made it through. We all assigned each other work, and content. We would get a partner and take off working. Jaida and Zack are the journalists, they upload all the content, pictures and videos. Nyssa and Angel and the technology experts they make the power points and videos. Last but not least, Angie and Cristian are the builders, they built the windmill. We had some tough times, but we made it through because we know that we can all come to agreements. We would work like the wind, and finish the work that needed to be finished. And at the end, we all knew we had to gather up our stuff and check everybody’s work to win this competition.

“We would agree on some things, but we did disagree on other things like deciding who’s doing what. For Example: I wanted to do the Team Collaboration, but so did Nyssa so; we worked on it together. But we’re all friends and we came to agreements” – Jaida

“We would split up in two teams because there was three jobs for six people. But at the end, everything turned out great.” – Nyssa

“I think we did have arguments on some things, because we all didn’t agree on everything. For instance, I wanted to make videos, but I had to get the power point done. ” – Cristian

“I really don’t think we had any problems, I think the whole thing worked out perfect” – Angel

“We had very little arguments, like what blade design we’re going to pick out, and about the content, but other than that, everything was fine”- Angie

“Our had team some arguments but everyone has arguments, so I think our team did a good job”- Zack

By: Jaida and everyone’s opinion

Team Diversity

Team Diversity

Our team is working very hard to win this competition. Our school, is a very high poverty school, strangely, it doesn’t feel like it because our teacher write grants to win laptops. We don’t have the best software, but it still works, and we’re lucky enough to even have software. It was hard to find a coach because none of our parents are available because they work full time, so our teacher coaches all of us.

Our team is constantly going home and uploading pictures, content, movies, videos, and more. However, Cristian and Angel don’t have a computer to work on, which is a disadvantage. But an advantage is Cristain and Angel get to go to the library almost every day of the week and work on computers. Everybody else has a computer, but most of them are really slow. Some people in our class like Angel and Cristain are getting new computers to take home, so soon they will be able to post content, pictures, and more.

Mr. Wulff created us jobs, he gave them to us based on what we’re good at. For instance, Jaida and Nyssa are better at making power points then building. Right now, Nyssa and I are finishing the power point; we made a power point on windmill parts. Zack is better at writing then making power points, although he gets tired sometimes. Cristain and Angel are twins and their really great at building, even though they broke our windmill. But luckily, they fixed with some extra bolts. Angie, is good at building, her and Cristain are the builders, but Angel likes to help. Although everybody in our team doesn’t have a computer, we are still able to stay caught up in the competition.

By: Jaida and Nyssa