Lesson Plan: Wind Hunting
Grade 4-5
Pyramid
- Working in pairs, the students will measure approximate wind speed
by making and using a "wind-hunting machine" with 80% accuracy
- Individually, students will list 5 things that effect wind with 50%
accuracy within the class.
- Individually students will be able to list reasons why knowing wind
speed is beneficial with 25% accuracy within the class.
Pyramid Point of Entry Considerations
- I have not taught this subject before and have very little prior
knowledge to prepare me for teaching this lesson at this time. I do
have a resource that I found the "wind-hunting" activity in, along with other
wind activities that can be incorporated into a wind unit. There are
also sample lesson plans on the Internet concerning wind that I can use as
resources.
- The material being covered in this lesson is part of a bigger unit
on wind and weather. The students have already looked at what wind is in
a previous lesson. This lesson is designed to lead into another lesson
on wind concerning, how one can estimate wind speed. The concepts are
designed to facilitate learning, so that the material being presented is
founded on the knowledge gained from the previous lesson. The students
are highly interested in this topic and have enjoyed the hands on experiences
(especially those outside the classroom).
- Because this is a large class of 30 students, and we have a small
area to work in, I have made arrangements to use a larger classroom for my
students to spread out in. The lesson is depended on the conditions
outside the school, because if it is raining the students will be unable
to complete the part of the lesson that needs to be done outside. The
materials needed for this lesson are all inexpensive and have been budgeted
for in a fund I have for odds-and-ends. There will be enough materials
for each pair to complete the assignment. However supplies are limited
and there is a need to convey this to the students as they use the supplies
wisely.
- Students should be equipped with the vocabulary needed to function
in this lesson. The directions for the "wind-hunting machine" are simple
and do not cover any new skills not already acquired. Students are
working in pairs (lab partners) that have been predetermined to allow students
with high interest or prior knowledge help each other with the material.
Language differences or reading difficulties should not make this lesson
any more difficult because directions for the lesson are given orally and
in written format.
- The lesson is a hands on opportunity which the students not only
get to make something, but which they get to use what they make to acquire
new information. Working in pairs is an instructional strategy that
will be used in this lesson to promote learning. The pairs of students
will be able to share in each aspect of this lesson, but also time is allotted
for independent practice as well. Students will be monitored as throughout
the activity, but allowed a great deal of independence to retrieve their
measurements. Students will be evaluated on the accuracy of their measurements.
Behavioral Objective
Working in pairs, the students will measure approximate wind speed by making
and using a "wind-hunting machine" with 80% accuracy.
Lesson Pre-Skills
- Be able to follow written directions
- Physically able to use the materials used to make the "wind-hunting
machine"
- Understand how to diagram in a chart or graph format
- Be able to summarize the results of an experiment
Materials needed (Bring enough for each pair to have 1 of each)
- 6-inch square of vinyl plastic (the kind used for report covers)
- Pushpins
- Unsharpened pencil with rubber eraser
- Dimes
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
- Packing tape
- Watch with a second’s hand
Introduction (10 Min.)
- Teacher will facilitate the student’s review of what was learned in
the previous lesson covering what makes the wind blow.
- Have students estimate what they think the wind speed is at the time
of the lesson.
- Introduce today’s activity about wind speed and how they will be measuring
it at different locations around the school.
Instructional Component (10 Min.)
1. Model to the students
how they will work in pairs to retrieve data needed to chart different wind
speeds.
Students will hold the "wind-hunting machine" arms length away and counting
how many times the
colored tip goes around
in 20 sec. To figure the speed for 1 minute they will multiply the
number by 3.
2. Instruct students
that when they have competed the construction of the "wind-hunting machine",
and
have checked it with the teacher they can
go to the 3 predetermined locations listed to get the
measurements.
- The top of a hill or high surface
3. The teacher will
demonstrate the use of the "wind-hunting machine" within the classroom with
the use of
a fan with different speed settings. The students can help the teacher
by counting the rotations to measure
the wind speed of the fan.
4. Adaptation:
Written instructions will be provided along with visual representation of
each step for the
students with a reading learning disability
and/or AD/HD who will have difficulty following oral
directions for a multi-step process.
Guided Practice (25 Min.)
- The teacher will hand out the materials to the predetermined pairs
and students will complete the construction of the "wind-hunting machine"
and record the measurements of wind.
- The students will compile the results of their measurements on white
poster board in a graph format and post around the room.
- Each pair of students will share their measurement with the rest of
the class. The teacher will provide feedback on differences and similarities
in the measurement results.
- The teacher will get the actual wind speed for the day to see if the
measurements are within 80% accuracy.
Adaptation: To help a student with AD/HD, the teacher will
remind the child to take his/her time when compiling answers as well as providing
redirection to check his/her work before putting it on the poster board and
displaying it in the classroom.
Adaptation: For those students who may be distracted
by unstructured time, such as AD/HD, provide a specific time limit for when
the students are outside measuring the wind. Provide approximate times-on-task
on the instruction sheet as well for further reminders to stay on task.
Lesson Summary (10 Min.)
- Review the steps for measuring wind speed.
- Review why we study wind speed.
- Explain that tomorrow in class we will be comparing results and exploring
different things that affect wind speed.
Adaptation: Give students 3 minutes to write down some ideas
why we study wind speed, call on the students with a learning disability
who may have only thought of one reason first so he/she will have an opportunity
to in class during the lesson summary. The teacher can also remind
students that they can use their instuction sheets when the class is reviewing
the steps for measuring the wind speed.
Independent Practice
Students will find two other places at home where they can measure the wind
speed and be prepared to discuss their findings the next day in class. The
purpose of this practice is so that the