Wind Blade Design Guided Inquiry Science Project

French Resources Available

Overview

The intent of this project is to follow a Teacher-Guided Inquiry methodology that is adapted from Youth Canada Science’s Smarter Science Framework. Learners will design their own wind turbine blade design using class Wind Kits provided by Centre of Excellence for Energy and NB Power.

NB Curricular Connections

Science 9/10

• Strand: – Scientific Literacy – Big Idea: Investigation – Skill Descriptors: Plan investigations to answer questions about relationships between and among variables observed, Collect and represent accurate data using tools and methods appropriate for investigations.
• Strand: Scientific Literacy – Big Idea: Sensemaking – Skill Descriptor: Analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to construct explanations and conclusions.
• Strand: Scientific Literacy – Big Idea: Communication – Skill Descriptor: Communicate procedure, result, and conclusion using a variety of media and working collaboratively
• Strand: Learning and Living Sustainably– Big Idea: Responsible and Sustainable Application – Skill Descriptors: Apply scientific and technological knowledge and an understanding of sustainable practices responsibly, Identify community-based challenges connected to at least two of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 13, 14, and 15, and apply iterative processes to design solutions.

What You’ll Need

• Download “Wind Blade Design Science Inquiry Project” (attached) and print one per group
• Assuming a student group size of two:
  • Wind Kit
    • 1 x Class Wind Stand
    • 1 x DC generator
    • 1 x multimeter
    • 10 x Wind Turbine Hubs
    • 1 x Wind Blade Protractor
    • Wooden Dowels
    • Lead wires with alligator clips
  • Wind Blade Materials
    • Wood
    • Heavy Crad Stock
    • Cardboard
    • Other applicable materials
  • Classroom Stationary Items
    • Glue
    • Tape
    • Scissors
• * If your school does not have access to a Wind Kit please e-mail the Lead for the Centre of Excellence for Energy (warren.coombs@gnb.ca) and one will be sent.

Instructions

1. Before starting this activity, learners should be able to make graphs and organize data tables.
2. Introduce the activity by presenting the Wind Kit and materials. Inform learners that they will have to measure the rate the amount of energy they can produce using a multimeter.
3. Hand out the “Wind Blade Design Science Inquiry Project” learner document (attached).
4. Go over the handout and inform students that they tasked with building their own wind blade design and testing it given the presented materials.
5. Have students research their topic and form their own inquiry question.

Assessment Ideas

• Consider using a rubric or checklist as learners work through the design process
• Consider have the learners write a lab report based on their experimental design

Extension Idea

• Consider pairing this activity with the following speaker series video Overview of Wind Energy .

Reflection Activity

Coming soon

Acknowledgments

This activity was created using the Smarter Science Framework by Youth Science Canada (https://youthscience.ca/for-educators/#resources)

This activity was adapted from the Wind Energy Challenge by Kidwind (KidWind — Teaching the World about Renewables)