Task 3a

Materials and tools for a working group:

wind direction pointer and anemometer

In this task, pupils will investigate (using the wind measuring instruments) whether the wind direction is the same everywhere and changes during the day. They will first examine whether environment affects the wind direction. It means, whether they think the wind will blow in the same direction in all parts of the school yard (eg on the playground, in the school box, at the entrance to the school, at the trees on the school grounds, etc.) or not.

Pupils should first determine the wind direction and its speed e.g. in front of the school entrance. Subsequently, they should make predictions about where at the school yard the wind will blow wind faster, where slower and where it will not blow at all. In addition, they can make predictions about whether in each of the places they proposed, it will blow in the same direction as in front of the school entrance. After writing the predictions, they will discuss them together with the teacher. Some pupils may assume that wind direction and wind speed will not change, and no wind will occur during the day it blows. In this case, the teacher can suggest them places where the wind is likely to be blowing at a different speed. in other directions because of obstacles.

In the discussion, teachers ask the students to justify why they think that the wind will (not) blow in which direction or at another / same speed. Subsequently, they verify their predictions with the help of created tools at places in the school yard (or in the vicinity of the school), which they proposed. The results (wind direction and wind speed) are recorded in Table B. In conclusion, they compare the findings with their assumptions in Table A and attempt to draw a conclusion from their investigation.

A variation of this activity may be to examine wind direction and speed over a period of 1 week at a particular location and at the same time. E.g. pupils write down the direction and speed of the wind in front of the entrance to the school building at 10.00 am every day. Data is recorded every day and evaluated at the end of the week. Similar measurements can be made once a month or every season. In this way, they can compare wind speed and direction and change them depending on the season.

Finally, the teacher can ask pupils questions e.g. in which month did the wind speed reach the highest/lowest value? In which month was the wind blowing mainly from the north? Etc.