Exploring Wind with Pinwheels

LESSON 1

Children will develop an understanding of wind as they create and observe pinwheels in action, fostering curiosity and creativity.

  • Wooden sticks or straws

  • Safety scissors

  • Pushpins/sewing pin

  • An open outdoor space

Materials

  • Gather materials

Preparations

  • Guide and assist children in creating a pinwheel, demonstrating the process.

  • Facilitate the exploration of the pinwheel's movement, encouraging children to experiment by blowing on it or taking it outside.

  • Initiate and lead a discussion about the pinwheel's motion, asking open-ended questions to prompt critical thinking.

  • Connect the story "Wind" by Carol Thompson to the children's real-world experiences, promoting comprehension and discussion.

  • Introduce the idea of a "Wind Journal" as an extension activity, encouraging children to document their wind-related experiences over the following weeks.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children create a pinwheel following steps.

  • Children explore and discover what propels the pinwheel by blowing on it or taking it outside on a windy day.

  • Children engage in a discussion about the pinwheel's movement and share their thoughts on why it spins.

  • Children express their understanding of wind by answering questions about what they know and feel about the wind.

  • Children connect the story "Wind" by Carol Thompson to their real-world experiences, discussing the illustrations and their relevance.

  •  Children start a "Wind Journal" to document and describe their wind-related experiences over the next few weeks.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • This poem is enjoyable to act out. Start by having your child stand like a tree while holding a leaf. When they hear "Run, children, run!" they can begin running around the room. Remind them that leaves are quiet as they float and fly through the air to keep them engaged. Encourage them to keep running and pretend to hide behind a tree. When the poem mentions the Northwind finding them tired, they can slow down and lie on the ground, ending the poem by pretending to be asleep.

The Northwind

The Northwind came along one day,

So strong and full of fun,

He called the leaves down from the trees

And said, “Run, children, run!”

They came in red and yellow dress,

In shaded green and brown,

And all the short October day,

He chased them round the town.

They ran in crowds, they ran alone,

They hid behind the trees,

The Northwind laughing found them there,

And said, “No stopping, please!”

But when he saw them tired out

And huddled in a heap,

He softly said, “Goodnight, my dears,

Now let us go to sleep!”

Activity Flow

  1. Begin this activity by creating a pinwheel together. Show them the pinwheel you made beforehand and then work together to create another one.

  2. Once the pinwheel is complete, take time to explore how it works. Let your child discover what propels the windmill. Invite them to blow on it, or take it outside. If it is not a windy day, encourage them to run outside with their pinwheel to see what happens.

3. After playing with the pinwheel, prompt a discussion with your child about what is causing the pinwheel to move:

  • What happens to the pinwheel when you run with it?

  • Why do you think it spins when you run or blow on it?

  • What do you know about the wind?

  • What do you think makes the wind blow?

  • What does the wind feel like?

  • What does the wind look like?

4. After your discussion, sit down to read the story called, “Wind” by Carol Thompson. As you read, talk about the illustrations and connect them to real world experiences you or your child have had.

5. Optional extension activity: help your child start a "Wind Journal" where they draw or describe their experiences with wind over the next couple weeks.