Wind Power Class
Looking for a field trip that gets students out in nature while addressing social studies, science and math concepts? Then this is the class for you! The Wind Power class introduces students to windmills and wind turbines, from their historic use in Texas circa 1900, to their recent prominence in the “green energy” movement. Students will practice estimation and measurement skills, learn about Texas history at ABNC’s historic farm, and explore ways they can help the environment.
| Grades | This class is geared toward 3rd - 5th graders. |
| Time | 10:00am - 12:00 noon. |
| Class Limit | Minimum 15, maximum 50 participants |
| Fee | $7.00/participant (children and adults, with the exception of teachers, who are free of charge). A 10-to-1 ratio of students to adults is required. |
Please see the field trip planner for more information about scheduling a field trip. (Call 281-474-2551 x 13 for class dates and to enroll.)
The following objectives, vocabulary, and TEKs may be addressed during this field trip.
Objectives
Students will:
- Observe the windmill and learn about how it operates.
- Discuss how windmills affected life in early Texas.
- Describe how and why people in early Texas needed to modify their environment to survive.
- Estimate and measure the distance between a water source and washing area.
- Estimate and measure the number of bucketfuls of water it will take to fill a wash tub.
- Discuss water usage in early Texas and water usage today.
- Describe how wind turbines work, including how they provide a source of renewable energy.
- Estimate the size of wind turbines, and measure out a turbine’s height on the ground.
- Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of a model wind turbine.
- Compare and contrast windmills and wind turbines.
Vocabulary
- Wind – moving air
- Windmill – machine for grinding or pumping that is driven by moving air that pushes on blades, vanes or sails
- Cistern – tank or container used for collecting and storing water
- Driller – person whose job was to follow the fence-building crews and guess where there might be water; drilled a well with a horse-powered drilling rig
- Windmiller – person whose job was to build windmills (built them over wells)
- Range rider – person whose job was to ride around and service windmills, oiling them and repairing when needed
- Wind turbine – machine that captures energy in moving air and turns it into electricity
- Renewable (energy) – will not run out (unlike fossil fuels)
- Model – object built to represent another (real) object, in the case of turbines: a bigger one; often models are built to scale and represent the details of the actual object
TEKS
- Science (Chapter 112, 2009): 3.1B, 3.2B&D, 3.3C, 3.4A, 3.6A; 4.1B, 4.2B&D, 4.3C, 4.4A, 4.6A; 5.1A, 5.2C&D, 5.4A, 5.6A
- Social Studies (Chapter 113): 3.4C, 3.15A&B; 4.4.B&C, 4.9.(A,B&C), 4.13A; 5.4F, 5.9(A,B&C), 5.24D
- Mathematics (Chapter 111): 3.11A; 4.11A; 5.11A
(Pre and post-trip activities may address additional TEKS.)
Pre and Post Trip Materials (PDF Format)
- Wind Power Checklist
- Wind Power Pre-Trip Activity (Measurement Mania
- Wind Power Post-Trip Activity (How Much Water