Does the wind always blow? Does it always blow from the same direction? By creating their own windsocks and using them to observe the wind for one week, students can explore these and other fun questions. The data are then placed on a pictograph table making comparisons easy. This will blow you away!

Engaging Questions

• What makes the wind blow

• What things are affected by wind?

• What are good things about the wind blowing?

• What are bad things about the wind blowing?

• What makes wind direction change?

Teacher Goals

• Students will create simple windsocks and use them to observe and record wind speed and direction for one week.

Required Resources

• Materials

  Materials needed for each student are constuction paper, markers or crayons, 3 crepe paper streamers about 12 inches long, tape, hole-punch, scissors, and a 12 inch string.

  • windsocksample.jpg

• Chart

  A chart for recording the wind speed and direction is required for this project and is provided in the Step Supplements of Instructions. 

  • jhw chart.jpg

• Resource form to be used with Just How Windy is It? activity.

  • Kinds of Matter

• Use this resource with Just How Windy is It? activity.

  • "What's the Matter" Scavenger Hunt

Optional Resources

• National Wind Technology Center This site, provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, contains general information about wind.

Steps

1. Making a Wind Sock

   a. Color a design or picture on the construction paper.
   b. Form the paper into an open "can" or cylinder shape. Glue or tape in place.
   c. Use a hole-punch to make two holes. Each will be one inch from the top and across from each other on the windsock.
   d. Cut a 12 inch string and run it through both holes, tying it in a knot.
   e. Attach 3 12 inch crepe paper streamers to the bottom of the windsock using tape or glue.
   (See Step Supplement for picture)

   • Windsock instructions

2. Gathering Information

   a. Take your windsock outside.
   b. Hang it securely where it is in an open area and the windsock can freely move.
   c. Observe your windsock at the same time of day for five days. Stand in the same place each day.
   d. Record your data on the table for each day. Put just one "x" on each day to show how the windsock looks in the wind.

Teacher Notes

• This activity may be done as a whole group activity or as an individual enrichment activity.

• This activity deals with varieties of wind speeds and changes in wind direction. Cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) are not used in the chart, but could easily be added if desired.

• Pre-cutting the string and the crepe paper for the activity would be helpful.

• Stress to the student to check the windsock each day and to stand in the same place each day in doing the observation.

• Encourage the student to make observations about what he or she sees that are not part the recorded data. 

Learner Notes

• You may need some help forming the windsock and cutting the crepe paper and string.

• Stand in the same place every day when you look at your windsock. Pick only one square on the chart on each day to show what the wind sock looks like.

• Under "Observations," write down other interesting things you notice about the wind or questions you have about it.

Mentor Notes

• Your son or daughter may need help in cutting the string and crepe paper for the windsock. Examining the picture of a completed windsock will be very helpful.

• Stress that your daughter or son must stand in a consistent place each time an observation is made. Information on cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) could be added if desired.

• Encourage your child to write observations about things he or she sees that are not part of the data being recorded.