Wind Energy Scavenger Hunt & WebQuest

This scavenger hunt guides students to research key facts about the history, technology, and innovations related to wind energy usage and storage.

Key Concepts:

• What wind energy is and what causes wind, Basic components of a wind turbine, Ideal wind conditions and locations, Benefits and challenges of wind power, Current wind farms and the wind industry, Careers associated with wind technology, and more.

It's an excellent way to get your students investigating the concept of wind power and how it has advanced over the years. It is perfect for middle or high school students can be done individually or in partners.

Here are two example questions that your students will find on the scavenger hunt webquest.

Wind Energy Scavenger Hunt WebQuest

Task: Research the following questions online.

1. What is wind energy and what causes wind to occur?

2. What are the basic components of a wind turbine and how do they work together to generate electricity?

All answers are included and your package also includes my Wind Energy STEM Challenge which will allow your students to explore the world of wind energy in an engineering challenge.

Here is a portion of the challenge.

Objective:

Design and construct a wind-powered car that can travel 2 meters (6.5 feet) using only the wind generated by a fan. Your car must stay within a designated track of 1 meter (3.3 feet) in width.

Materials:

·       Cardboard sheets.

·       Paper (for the sail)

·       Dowels or skewers for axles and structure.

·       Tape or glue.

·       Scissors.

·       Ruler or measuring tape.

·       Fan to provide wind power and markers or paint for decoration.

Design Constraints:

·       The car must be primarily made of cardboard and paper.

·       The only allowed materials for the car's movement are dowels for axles and a paper sail.

·       The car cannot have any electronic or pre-made propulsion systems (e.g., no motors, batteries).

·       The vehicle must have at least two wheels.

·       The car must be freestanding and move straight on its own once the fan starts.

·       Decorations are permitted but cannot contribute to the car’s propulsion.