{"id":39543,"date":"2023-02-20T19:28:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T00:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/?p=39543"},"modified":"2025-08-08T15:23:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T19:23:47","slug":"3-engaging-wind-power-projects-for-middle-school-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/2023\/02\/3-engaging-wind-power-projects-for-middle-school-students\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Engaging Wind Power Projects for Middle-School Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

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Looking for ways to introduce lessons on renewable energy to your middle-school students? Bringing kids into the conversation early shows them how important renewables are and how they can get involved right now. Below you\u2019ll find NSTEM resources that help get middle schoolers thinking creatively about ways to generate clean energy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Build a simple turbine and discover wind energy<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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By having middle-school students build small wind turbines, they\u2019ll discover how wind energy can easily transform into electrical energy. They\u2019ll learn that wind power is a renewable and economical alternative to conventional plant-produced fuel. Watch this video to learn how your class can create wind turbines with very few supplies. The only item you may need to purchase is a voltmeter\u2014which can be purchased inexpensively online. Watch this demonstration from NSTEM resource, Teach Engineering, to see how all the fun begins. Wind Power – Informal Learning Activity – TeachEngineering<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Build a puff mobile and watch it go<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Photo courtesy of Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

In this renewable energy activity, participants build a wind-powered car using straws, Lifesavers candies, paper and paper clips, then try to get their car to the finish line using as few \u201cpuffs\u201d of air as possible. During this fun experiment, students will discover that we can use wind power in the world of transportation (as demonstrated with sail cars or even sailboats).\u00a0 Check out our NSTEM resource, DiscoverE.org for everything you need to know about Puff Mobiles.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u00a03.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Create a MacGyver windmill and convert moving air into mechanical energy<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n