Gust to Grid
Provided by: Cool.org|Published on: September 13, 2026
Grades: 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Engineering
Authors: Cool.org
Region: Global, Oceania
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson, students learn how wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy and how that energy travels through a system to the grid.
- Students design, build, test, and improve their own simple pinwheel wind turbines.
- The lesson runs about sixty minutes.
- Though much of the data and information is specific to Australia, teachers worldwide can implement this lesson with minor tweaks.
Teaching Materials
Broken Links/Missing Materials:
- The Wind Power Video, featuring Matthew Dixon, referenced several times in the lesson plan, is not linked in the downloadable PDF, but is linked when viewing the lesson on the web.
Preparation:
- A free Cool.org account and login are required to access the full lesson materials.
- A fully constructed pinwheel and a small fan are required for the lesson.
- There is a student worksheet that teachers can print ahead of time.
Prerequisites:
- This is the second lesson in a five-lesson unit. The first lesson is referenced occasionally in this resource. It can be found here.
- Ensure students understand the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy, know the definition of kinetic energy, and have a basic understanding of circuits.
Materials:
- The following materials are required for the "Making a Wind Turbine" activity:
- Square piece of paper (15cm x 15cm)
- Scissors
- Thumb tack
- Glue
- Pencil with an eraser attached to the end OR
- A stick with a small piece of cork or eraser attached
- Plasticine
Sustainable Development Goals Connections:
- Connect this lesson to SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, by exploring how wind power generates clean electricity.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
