Blowin' in the Wind

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In this weather activity, learners build their own wind detector and test for the presence of convection currents in their indoor location. Though the initial activity takes only 30 minutes, the activity can be extended to encourage learners to collect data over a period of weeks of months, so that they might discover how convection currents are affected by differences in air temperature, different seasons, and building temperatures.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Tissue paper
  • Paper hole-punch
  • Thread
  • Tape
  • New, unsharpened pencil

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Processes
      • Weather and Climate
    • Earth Structure
      • Atmosphere

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, COSI Columbus, 2009