Mapping Wind in the Classroom

• This fun and hands-on group activity is useful for teaching students about air currents, air movements, and energy efficiency.
• This group experiment and activity includes creating an air current map of the classroom and extensions for learning how to create a draft doorstop and a window insulation model to help lower household electricity bills.

Positives

• This lesson plan is filled with classroom discussions and interactivity.
• The materials for this lesson should be easy to find or substitute with other items.
• The extension projects connect this topic to energy use and energy waste in buildings.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Students can write their observations in a notebook or location of your choice for the "Energy Learning Log" mentioned.
• You can use small strips of paper on the pencil instead of plastic for the experiment and feathers are not required.
• Bubble mix can be made with water and soap and pipe cleaners can be used to make the bubble makers by bending them into loops with a handle.
  

Differentiation

• Have students measure the wind from someone speaking, walking by, or blowing air in one direction to see how the results in the classroom differ.  Can students create a new wind pattern?
  
• Consider doing this activity outside as well, weather permitting.
  
• This activity could augment a classroom discussion on the connection between wind and certain weather events.
• This activity could enhance a classroom discussion on how heating and air conditioning works and why temperature differences cause wind.
• This activity could accompany a classroom discussion on wind turbines and how they generate electricity.
• This could supplement a classroom discussion about other systems on Earth that impact human activity.