During their “Writing Like a Scientist” unit, second-graders at J. Irving Baylis Elementary School in Syosset engineered blades for wind turbines with an eye for efficiency in design.
They began by learning about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources from a multimedia presentation given by Enrichment Specialist Dr. Kat Kelly in the library. They learned about the limitations of nonrenewable resources such as gas, oil and coal. They also learned about the flexibility and availability of renewable resources such as wind, water and sun.
The second-graders then used a STEM portfolio to guide their work in groups as they designed blades for a wind turbine. They followed the STEM path of ask, imagine, plan, create and improve.
Groups worked collaboratively to design a new type of blade to test on a model wind turbine. In the end, they learned that surface area, shape, weight and strength of the material were all important factors in designing successful blades.
