This video provides detailed instructions and also demonstrates two experiments using common household materials.
The first experiment shows students how wind turbine power works, and the second experiment teaches students about the thermal expansion of water.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video provides differentiation for different levels of understanding.
The experiments are engaging, easy to follow, and directly relate to the impacts of climate change.
Additional Prerequisites
Teachers should watch the video ahead of time to decide which experiments they can replicate in their class and what materials the class will need.
The video pronounces turbine with a short "i" sound.
Differentiation
Students could replicate the experiments in the video or come up with their own designs to demonstrate the concepts.
Students could write instructions for how to conduct one of the experiments mentioned in the video.
Early finishers could view the link in the video description for more PRI Climate and Energy Resources.
Other resources related to wind power include this data set on global wind power generation and this project on creating a small wind generator to light up an LED.
Other resources related to the thermal expansion of water include this informative video and this experiment.
Scientist Notes
This resource uses everyday items to conduct two experiments; one on how much power a simple wind turbine can generate, and one on the thermal expansion properties of water. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
HS-ESS2-2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
ETS1: Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
MS-ETS1-4 Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
PS1: Matter and its Interactions
MS-PS1-4 Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
MS-PS2-2 Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
PS3: Energy
MS-PS3-1 Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.
MS-PS3-5 Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.
HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
