Air & Weather
Science Topic:
- Earth and Space Science
Engineering Field:
- Mechanical Engineering
Leif Catches the Wind
Leif and his cousin Dana have been best friends forever. When they get the news that Dana is moving away, they decide to keep in touch via email. Dana emails Leif to talk about weather forecasting, her favorite hobby, and Leif emails Dana with news of his pet fish.
Leif is excited to learn that Dana's new house has a fish pond outside, but Dana says that the fish seem to be sick. Inspired by the wind turbines of Denmark, Leif and Dana realize they might be able to use wind energy to help solve the problem. Enlisting the help of Leif's mother, a mechanical engineer, Leif and Dana design a windmill to save the fish.
Teacher Guide
This unit guides students to think like mechanical engineers as they use their knowledge of wind to design and create machines that can be used to capture wind energy. The storybook "Leif Catches the Wind" reinforces the science concept of air as wind, and introduces the field of mechanical engineering. The wind turbines found in Leif's home country, Denmark, are used as an example of a renewable energy source and a machine designed in part by mechanical engineers.
Students will look critically at several common machines (mechanical pencils, egg beaters, rolling pins) and diagram how the parts of the machine interact with other parts of the machine and allow the object to function.
Students will then use their mechanical engineering skills to explore different materials and shapes conducive to catching the wind, first by designing sails for small boats and finally for designing windmill blades.
Storybook
Leif and his cousin Dana have been best friends forever. When they get the news that Dana is moving away, they decide to keep in touch via email. Dana emails Leif to talk about weather forecasting, her favorite hobby, and Leif emails Dana with news of his pet fish.
Leif is excited to learn that Dana's new house has a fish pond outside, but Dana says that the fish seem to be sick. Inspired by the wind turbines of Denmark, Leif and Dana realize they might be able to use wind energy to help solve the problem. Enlisting the help of Leif's mother, a mechanical engineer, Leif and Dana design a windmill to save the fish.
The following documents will help you learn more about the lessons in this unit, the science the unit links to, and the materials needed to facilitate these lessons.
