Wind Turbines
Big giant wind turbines surround small farming communities in Iowa allowing for natural resources to be used as a fuel.
Driving Question
- What do those wind turbines do?
Probing Questions
- Why are there so many wind turbines?
- Are they all over the world?
- Why are they found in clusters around small farming communities?
- .What happens to the energy they collect? How is it used?
Classroom Suggestions
Students could:
- Research the Iowa weather and its effect on wind turbines.
- Research wind energy
- Research energy conservation
- Invite an engineer in to discuss the wind turbines
Relevant Related Resources
YouTube: How Do Wind Turbines Work?: Video explaining how and why wind turbines work.
Newsela: Generating Energy from the Wind: Article about wind farms and wind energy.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba: Read Aloud | YouTube: A true story about a young boy determined to help his village in Africa while they are suffering a drought.
FIND Iowa: Energy in Iowa | Iowa PBS: Short media series on wind energy.
Iowa Core Alignment
4-ESS3-1:Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment
Credit Info
Phenomena submitted by Valorie Grundmeier.
Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena provided by:
