FacebookTwitterVimeo

Workshop overview

The primary goal of our workshops is to introduce teachers to the science behind renewable energy, and to give educators the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to effectively incorporate renewable energy science into their classroom curricula.

While we are well known for our wind energy workshops, we also offer workshops on solar, energy efficiency, and other renewables. A KidWind workshop could be as short as 1/2 day or up to 5 days long. However, a typical KidWind workshop lasts 1 full day. Professional development credit is often available to participating educators.

The WindWise curriculum has 18 different lessons that cover a variety of concepts from energy efficiency to biological impacts of wind development. A full-day workshop typically allows teachers to explore 3-4 of these lessons in depth.

Sample Schedule (1-day Wind Energy Workshop)

  • 8:30 - 9:00: Coffee, Agenda, Introductions

  • 9:00 - 10:00: Activity - WindWise Lesson 6 How Does a Windmill Work?

  • This lesson helps teachers understand how a windmill captures the energy of the wind and transforms it into usable mechanical energy, which is the basis for understanding modern wind turbines. This activity covers standards related to the engineering design process and the scientific method to design, build, test, and improve their models.

  • 10:00 - 10:15: Break

  • 10:15 - 11:30: Lecture - Wind Energy 101

  • This presentation helps to orient teacher to the technical, political and ecological challenges that face the wind power development in the US and worldwide.

  • 11:30 - 12:00: Activity - Building Classroom Wind Turbines

  • 12:00 - 12:30: Lunch Break

  • 12:30 - 1:00: Guest Lecture from Wind Industry Professional

  • 1:00 - 1:30: Overview of the WindWise Curriculum

  • A basic overview of the lessons and design of the curriculum. This is critical as teachers will only experiment with a few lessons during the workshop.

  • 1:30 - 3:00: Activity - WindWise Lessons 8 & 9

  • Hands-on wind turbine blade design experiments. Teachers will use a variety of materials to design blades that optimize the power output of a model wind turbine.

  • 3:00 - 3:45: Activity - WindWise Lesson

  • This time is used to introduce teachers to one more lesson from the WindWise curriculum. Examples include: How Does a Generator Work? Where Do You Put a Wind Farm? Can Wind Power Your Classroom?

  • 3:45 - 4:00: Evaluations, Q&A