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Coach Resources

Who is a Coach?

A coach is anyone who is motivated enough to help a team of students attend a KidWind Challenge! We have had all kinds of coaches, from classroom teachers and enthusiastic parents to grandparents. Some coaches come to a KidWind Challenge with a number of related skills and experience. Others are trying it out for the first time. The KidWind Challenge welcomes all ability levels, so don’t be afraid to join!

While you do not need to be a wind energy expert, as a coach it is your responsibility to make sure you understand the rules and guidelines. Please help your team get the materials they need to accomplish their project and make sure your students have the space and guidance they need to SAFELY build and test a small wind turbine.

How do I get started?

  • 1. REGISTER some teams. Is there a KidWind Challenge in your state or region? If so, then you can start to form some teams. Once you have one or several teams, register them on the website.
  • 2. Download and READ the rules. It is very important that you understand the rules and guidelines. This tells you all sorts of things like what materials you can use to build your turbine, how big it can be, how it will be evaluated. It’s all in there – so please read it.
  • 3. GET some materials. In an attempt to make the KidWind Challenge accessible to as many students as possible there is only ONE required item. The KidWind Wind Turbine Generator. All teams must use this generator so the comparisons will be accurate. While we have lots of extra goodies at the KidWind shop to help you as you build a sweet turbine, you don’t need them to succeed. Take a look at the picture gallery in the RESULTS section to see all the great designs that students come up with. You may find yourself inspired!

Are there free materials?

Currently for all teams who register for a sanctioned KidWind Challenge we offer a FREE Team Kit. This kit includes the basics like some generators, hubs, resistors etc. See what is in the kit. You will still need to find materials to build towers, blades etc. We are just getting you started.

We also offer a Teacher KidWind Challenge Kit that includes a lot more of this stuff at a greatly reduced price so you can have enough gear for an entire classroom or large group of students. The only way to get access to this kit is to register at least 4 teams that you are coaching.

Looking for related lesson plans?

Our entire WindWise curriculum is available online for FREE! Check out the lessons on turbines and blade design as this will give you some guidance in those critical areas. Other units in the WindWise curriculum can be helpful as you work to understand some of the larger impacts and issues surrounding wind energy.

Also check out our Wind Energy Science Fair Kit document – it has lots of good ideas and tips on building a wind turbine.

Is there teacher or coaches training?

For many of the challenges we try to offer a pre-training workshop to help coaches and teachers learn more about wind energy and distribute free gear and equipment. These are great opportunities to help get your team and yourself ready for a KidWind Challenge. Head here to see if there is a workshop in your area.

I heard there are prizes for winners?

At many challenges we are offering prizes! See each challenge to learn more as it varies from location to location based on sponsorship.

I can't find a Challenge in my state or area?

We are working to start KidWind Challenges in as many states as possible. The main reason that there may not be a challenge in your state is that we have not found a funder, we do not have any WindSenators to lead the charge or we are just tired. ;-).

The great thing is that you can build; test and experiment with wind turbines as a science fair project or as a classroom project. Check out our great kits and curriculum to get started. In 2012 we'll kick off the Global Web Wind Challenge. Students from anywhere in the world will be able to compete against one another as they build and test small classroom sized wind turbines on their own. This program will launch in February 2012. Stay tuned!

Still have questions? Send them along to michael(at)kidwind.org