While a lot of people were grumbling about the strong winds yesterday, the sixth graders at Central Middle School were celebrating.
After testing their homemade wind turbines numerous times in front of a fan inside the classroom, they were finally able to pit them against the North Dakota winds.
Some of the turbines spun faster than others, some didn't survive the 40 mph gusts — but all of the students seemed to enjoy themselves.
“And it's all in the name of science,” said CMS teacher Carol Gibson.
Gibson said with the warmer temperatures arriving and summer vacation creeping up, the students were getting a case of spring fever.
“We needed a highly motivational project to keep them interested,” she said.
The project was a collaboration between Lake Region State College, which recently implemented their Wind Energy Technician Program, and the Northeast Education Services Cooperative (NESC). The NESC includes nearly 20 private and public schools, from Langdon to Four Winds.
Jennifer Carlson, NESC Executive Director, said LRSC applied for a grant while developing their wind tech program and used the funds to send teachers to area workshops and provide turbine kits for students and teachers.
“Some schools took field trips to local wind farms to get a first-hand look at the big turbines,” Carlson said. “Approximately 375 students were able to construct their own miniature wind turbines and discover how their design creates energy.”
Gibson said the kits included pre-cut PVC pipe, a sprocket, generator and other materials needed for construction. The blades, however, were designed by the students.
She said the students could attach up to 12 blades and they could be constructed out of the supplied material or something else, such as cardboard. The students then conducted several tests with a fan to measure the resistance. They adjusted variables and recorded the changes in resistance with a simple multi-meter.
The students can now take their homemade turbines home and Gibson said she is optimistic that some of the students will continue to experiment over the summer break.
That, noted Carlson, is exactly what they hoped for.
“The goal is to get kids interested in wind and alternative energy at an earlier age and to possibly start thinking about career interests and opportunities,” she said. “If there is an interest, they may want to consider taking more science classes as they progress in their education.”
Devils Lake, ND —
