Activity instructions

Ages - 0 to 2

What to do:

Preparation: Make a flag for each child using a stick or drinking straw as the handle and tissue paper, balloons, strips of paper, ribbons, and/or streamers as the flag.

Begin the activity by asking children to think about wind. What does it sound like? Where can you find it? What does it feel like?

Consider blowing on children’s arms or hands to demonstrate the feeling of wind: alternatively, have children blow on their own arms or hands, set up a fan to blow in the room, or wave a piece of cardboard to create wind.

Give each child a flag and ask them to blow on the flag, wave the flag in front of the fan, or take the flags outside.

Provocations:

I wonder where the wind comes from?
I wonder what the wind sounds like?
I wonder if you can see the wind?

Possible lines of development:

If you have a wind chime, demonstrate to children how the wind can make music. Alternatively, create a simple wind chime using string, shells, pebbles, bottle caps, old keys etc.
To the tune of “Row, row, row your boat” sing the following song:

Wind, wind, blow the clouds
Fast across the sky.
Blow the branches back and forth
In the trees so high.

To the tune of “Mary had a little lamb” sing the following song:

The wind is blowing all around,
All around, all around.
The wind is blowing all around,
All around the air.

Make windmills for children using this template: Make a windmill.

Ages - 2 to 3

What to do:

Preparation: Collect a range of materials for creating flags, such as tissue paper, balloons, strips of paper, ribbons, streamers, sticky tape, and sticks or straws for the handles. Either make a flag for children to decorate or assist children in making their own flags.

As you make the flags, ask children to share what they know about the wind: where does it come from? What does it feel like? Can we see the wind? What does it smell like? How do we know if it is windy?

Head into the yard with children and experiment with flying the flags. How do the flags look when you’re running or when you’re standing still?

Ask children to investigate how they can make the blades turn faster or slower.

Provocations:

I wonder where the wind comes from?
I wonder how we know if it’s windy?
I wonder what the wind looks like?
I wonder what the wind feels like?
I wonder what the wind sounds like?
I wonder what will happen if we hold the flags up to the wind?
I wonder what will happen if we run with the flags?

Possible lines of development:

If you have a wind chime, demonstrate to children how the wind can make music. Alternatively, create a simple wind chime using string, shells, pebbles, bottle caps, old keys etc.
Other types of weather and how they sound, look and feel (e.g. sunshine, rain, snow, storm).
To the tune of “Row, row, row your boat” sing the following song with children as they role-play the movement of the wind:

Wind, wind, blow the clouds
Fast across the sky.
Blow the branches back and forth
In the trees so high.

To the tune of “Mary had a little lamb” sing the following song with children as they role-play the movement of the wind:

The wind is blowing all around,
All around, all around.
The wind is blowing all around,
All around the air.

Make a windmill using this template: Make a windmill.

Ages - 3 to 5

What to do:

Preparation: Print and cut out the Wind Turbine Template, giving one set to each child. Although you can use paper for the turbines, thin cardboard would probably work best.

Begin by showing children the image of the wind turbine on the Energy Flashcards. Ask children:

I wonder what this is?
I wonder what this does?
Have you seen one of these?

Explain to children that the picture is of a wind turbine. Wind is a type of energy and we can use the energy from the wind to make electricity. Wind turbines are used to turn the wind into electricity.

Explain to children that they will be making their own mini wind turbine. Although they won’t be able to make electricity they will be able to see how the wind turns the blades and how a stronger wind will make the turbine turn faster.

Help children to make their wind turbines.

Take the turbines outside and experiment with wind speeds. Children might have to run with their turbines to make the blades turn faster.

Provocations:

I wonder where the wind comes from?
I wonder what the wind looks like?
I wonder what the wind feels like?
I wonder what the wind smells like?
I wonder how we know if it’s windy?
I wonder what will happen if we hold the wind turbine up to the wind?
I wonder if the wind turbine will still spin when there is no wind?
I wonder how we can make the blades spin really fast or really slow?
I wonder how we can use the wind to make electricity?
I wonder how we can use the sun to make electricity?
I wonder how we can use water to make electricity?
I wonder if there are any other ways to make electricity?

Possible lines of development:

Use the additional Energy Flashcards to initiate discussion around different types of energy.
Other types of weather and how they sound, look and feel (e.g. sunshine, rain, snow, storm).
Make a windmill using this template: Make a windmill.
Make a windsock to determine wind direction and speed: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Windsock-for-Children
Ask children to choose a leaf or feather and mark it with a pen to identify it as their own. On a windy day, hold a competition to see whose leaf or feather travels the furthest in the wind.
Write and sing a song about the weather.
If you have a wind chime, demonstrate to children how the wind can make music. Alternatively, create a simple wind chime using string, shells, pebbles, bottle caps, old keys etc.
Create a dance routine to the song "Energy" by The Apples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6gSSsCdFeA

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenges and persisting when difficulties arise
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

Hang it up - Install a low washing line outside for children and staff to hang wet stuff on.
Monitors - Create a roster for children to be energy monitors and turn off the lights when not needed.

Hydro Tasmania - Wind Energy

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