Weather vane
Description
Children experiment, observe and build new knowledge about air, its properties and its effects on human life. By making the anemometer, a meteorological instrument appears that allows them to observe changes in wind direction.
Learning objectives
Cultivating scientific ways of thinking: experimentation, observation, concluding.
Building knowledge about air and wind.
Application of instructions aimed at the construction of an anemometer.
Suggested age group
2nd Grade
Time
90 minutes
Fields in S.T.E.A.M.
Mathematics
Sciences
Mechanics
Materials
· 1 plastic food bag
· 1 straw
· 1 wooden straw
· 1 yoghurt cup or a plastic cup
· cardboard
· scissors
· glue or stapler
· scotch tape or paper tape
Steps
1
The teacher performs an experiment, leading the children to understand that air surrounds us. Observing it, as it has been collected in a thin plastic bag, the children and the teacher describe it, articulating its properties.
2
Although colourless, odourless and invisible, air is felt when it moves, i.e. as wind. Discussing according to the visual material, the children learn that the wind can blow from all directions, which is of particular importance for navigation.
3
Following the steps as presented in the supervision material, the students make wind vanes. It is important for the children to operate autonomously, undertaking the development of the mechanical part, with the teacher having a supportive and coordinating role.
4
Children can test their weather vanes first in the classroom to spot any construction errors. Only the wooden straw should rotate for the structure to be functional, while the rest remains fixed. So, if, e.g. the straw tilts, it will be harder to turn the shaft. If there are functional issues in some builds, you can discuss how to fix and implement them.
5
You can then test their operation outside the classroom by placing them in a high place outside. There, the children can observe the movement of the wind vanes and conclude: whether it is windy or not, in which direction it is blowing, if there are changes, and so on.
