Harness the Wind

What is wind?

Wind is air in motion. Wind is produced by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. As the sun warms the Earth’s surface the atmosphere warms too. Some parts of the Earth receive direct rays of sun and others do not. This creates a difference in air pressure. Warm air weighs less than cold air and rises; cold air moves in and replaces the warm air. This movement of cold and warm air, or the change in air pressure, creates wind. Wind is affected by local and global conditions.

Design a Wind Experiment

As a class design an experiment to study or test some aspect of the wind. Let the students design and lead the study. Be a guide and resource for the students as they discuss, design and carry out their experiment/study. Some ideas: wind energy, wind speed, air pressure, how wind shapes the land, benefits of wind, wind damage.

Presentation

Once students have designed and/or carried out their experiment or study have them create a multimedia presentation of their findings.

Links

Kid Wind Project - Learn About Wind: Wind Power Basics

http://learn.kidwind.org/learn

Earth Science for Kids - Wind

http://www.ducksters.com/science/earth_science/wind.php

EPA: Students

http://www.epa.gov/students/index.html

Book List

Grades 3-5

Bauer, M. D., and J. Wallace. 2003. Wind. Simon Spotlight.

Capeci, A., and C. Bracken. 2007. The Magic School Bus Rides the Wind. Scholastic, Inc.

Drummond, A. 2011. Energy Island: How one community harnassed the wind and changed their world. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Friend, S. 2002. Earth’s Wild Winds. 21^st Century.

Frost, H. 2004. Weather: Wind. Coughlan Publishing.

Kamkwamba, W., B. Mealer, and E. Zunon. 2012. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Penguin Group (USA).

Woelfle, G. 2013. The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills. Chicago Review Press, Inc.

Grades 6-8

Caduto, M. J., J. H. Mitchell, and D. Bonta. 2011. Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids. Storey Publishing, LLC.

Dobson, C. 2010. Wind Power: 20 Projects to Make with Paper. Firefly Books, Limited.

Fitzgerald, S., D. Voege, and Science Applications, Inc. Staff. 2010. Wind Power. Chelsea House Publishers.

Ganeri, A. 2004. Wind. Gareth Stevens Publishing.

Walker, N. 2006. Generating Wind Power. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Grades 9-12

Kamkwamba, W., and B. Mealer. 2010. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. William Morrow.

Rodgers, A., and A. Streluk. 2008. Wind and Air Pressure (Measuring the Weather). Heinemann Library.

Walker, N. 2006. Generating Wind Power. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Bird Song Survey

It is almost time once again for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! Young and old, students and teachers, parents and grandparents participate every year as citizen scientists to do their part to gather important information for bird conservation. Use Project WILD’s “Bird Song Survey” to explore the importance of inventorying wildlife populations!

Participate in the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count February 14-17, 2014! http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

Young Child Extension

Young children can help count birds too! Take kids on a walk around the school yard or observe birds through the windows of the classroom. Keep a chart to track the number of birds sighted. Put a bird feeder up outside the classroom window to attract birds for children to watch. Or help the children make pinecone bird feeders to hang up themselves. Use Growing Up WILD’s “Bird Beak Buffet” to learn more about our feathered friends!

Book List

Grades PreK-2

Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.

Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.

Boring, M. and L. Garrow. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. National Book Network.

Collard, S.B. 2002. Beaks! Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Garelick, M. 1995. What Makes a Bird a Bird? Mondo Publishing.

Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Oppenheim, J.F. and B. Reid. 1987. Have You Seen Birds?. Scholastic, Inc.

Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.

Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.

Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.

Grades 3-5

Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.

Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.

Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.

Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.

Burnie, D. 2005. Birdwatcher. DK Publishing, Inc.

Cortright, S. 1995. Birding Basics. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.

Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Dawe, N. 1988. Bird Book and the Bird Feeder. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.

Fitcher, G.S. 1982. Birds of North America. Random House, Incorporated.

Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.

Hume, R. 1993. Birdwatching. Random House, Incorporated.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.

Kress, S.W. 2001. Bird Life. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lerner, C. 1994. Backyard Birds of Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.

Lindsey, T. 1999. Birding. Time-Life Custom Publishing.

Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Maslowski, S. 2001. Birds in Winter. Smart Apple Media.

Peterson, R.T. 1999. Backyard Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds. HarperCollins Children's Books.

Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.

Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.

Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.

Grades 6-8

Burgess, T.W. 2003. Burgess Bird Book for Children. Dover Publications.

Burnie, D. 2004. Bird. DK Publishing, Inc.

Ganeri, A. 1993. Birds. Scholastic Library Publishing.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lee, F. 2005. Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide and Activities. Gibbs Smith.

Robbins, C.S. 2001. Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Spaulding, D.T. 1997. Watching Our Feathered Friends. Lerner Publishing Group.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Ward, A. 2004. Pocket Factfiles: Birds. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Grades 9-12

Dobson, C. 1981. Feeding Wild Birds in Winter. Firefly Books.

Gardner, D. and N. Overcott. 2003. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Winter Birds of the Great Plains. University of Iowa Press.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Johnson, J. 2003. 1000 Facts on Birds. Barnes & Noble Books.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Peterson, R. T. and L. A. Peterson. 2010. Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Roth, S. 2000. Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible. Rodale Press, Incorporated.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. National Aububon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Stokes, D. and L. Stokes. 2010. The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown & Company.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Wildlife in National Symbols

January is the perfect time to observe bald eagles in Iowa! A great number of bald eagles overwinter in Iowa and can be observed along rivers and streams. Years ago it was unusual to see bald eagles in Iowa at all but today we enjoy their presence year-round as many have made Iowa their permanent home and breed within our borders. On August 8, 2007, the bald eagle was officially removed from the federal threatened and endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act. The bald eagle has a rocky history in the United States and has made a tremendous recovery in recent years.

A wonderful social studies tie in with viewing these majestic birds is the Project WILD activity “Wildlife in National Symbols.” This activity takes a look at the diversity of countries and cultures that include wildlife in their symbols. An interesting extension to this activity is to look at the symbols of other states, and Iowa schools. Are the symbols animals? Are these animals native to the respective state or school? Research more about the history of these symbols.