W ndWise
education
Wind Energy
Curriculum &
Teacher Training
33 States!
3,000 Teachers!
250,000 Students!
Our Experience
We have worked with many partners over the last five years to help bring wind energy science
and engineering into classrooms all over the world. Some of our partners include NextEra Energy
Resources, DMI Industries, LM Glasfiber, Mortensen Construction, Iberdola Renewables, and
Noble Environmental Power.
Over the last 5 years, we have provided training and support to over 3,000 teachers in 33 states
and Canada. These teachers impact over 250,000 students and their parents each year! If you are
interested in building a network of thoughtful and engaged citizens in areas where you work,
give us a call.
About WindWise Education
WindWise Education is a product of the KidWind Project/Pandion Systems, Inc. partnership.
KidWind was one of the first developers of wind lessons and wind educational kits for teachers
and has established itself as a leader in wind education. Pandion specializes in wind-wildlife
interactions. Pandion’s team of ecologists, biologists, and educators has designed and implemented
several environmental curricula and teacher training programs. The combined expertise of
KidWind and Pandion has resulted in a one-of-a-kind wind energy program for teachers, schools,
and school districts.
Christine Denny
Pandion Systems, Inc.
102 NE 10th Ave
1st Floor
Gainesville, FL 32601
Michael Arquin
KidWind Project
475 Cleveland Avenue North
Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55104
352.372.3269
877.917.0079
W ndWise
education
cdenny@windwiseeducation.org
michael@windwiseeducation.org
What is WindWise Education?
WindWise Education is an innovative curriculum and teacher training program that explores the
dynamic field of wind energy. It offers educators everything they need to provide 6th through 12th
grade students with comprehensive instruction. WindWise goes further than traditional energy
education programs by integrating key educational concepts with real-world situations.
The curriculum package includes:
• Standards-based lessons for middle and high school students
• Ready-made lab and activity kits for teachers
• Data and maps from actual wind farms
• Real-time data integration
• Case studies and profiles of wind professionals
• Assessment tools for each activity that measure comprehension
• Lessons that go “beyond pinwheels” and encourage critical thinking • Interdisciplinary lessons for physics, biology, earth science, math, and social studies classes
Table of Contents
I.
II.
Introduction
• How to Use This
Guide
• Overview of Win
d Energy
• Links to State an
d National Standar
ds
Lessons
W ndWise
education
Blade Design
Innovative
Energy
Grades: 6-12
Subjects: Physical
Sciences, Physics
Profile: Engineer
Format: Lab
Making Choices: E
Through this dyna
mic lab, students
learn how engine
durable, quiet, an
ers design
d affordable blades
that extract maxim
from the wind. St
um energy
udents design and
test various blade
classroom turbine
designs on a
and then compete
with their classm
most efficient desig
ates for the
n.
nvironmental Impa
What makes WindWise different?
Most wind energy curricula are aimed at elementary students. WindWise, however, is a
comprehensive curriculum that engages middle and high school students with in-depth activities.
Students learn about all aspects of wind development from turbine design to wind-wildlife
interactions. WindWise provides students with introductory concepts, real-life examples, maps, and
data, allowing students to hone critical thinking skills.
Why would teachers use WindWise?
Teachers want creative, ready-made lessons that correlate with educational standards. They also
want hands-on activities that can enrich students’ learning experiences. All WindWise Education
lessons are easy to incorporate into an existing class curriculum and are tied to state and national
standards. WindWise features an interactive activity or lab with every lesson, and each activity
includes assessment to determine comprehension.
Why become a WindWise Partner?
WindWise helps train our next generation of engineers, policymakers, and biologists for the
future of wind energy. WindWise is the only curriculum package that delves into all aspects of wind
energy development. Students who participate in WindWise learn how to design efficient turbine
blades, site a wind farm with minimal wildlife impacts, analyze real-time data, and examine the
economics of wind development.
By educating students and their teachers, WindWise also helps to engage a large, vocal part of the
local community to consider wind energy from a scientific perspective and prompt them to make
informed decisions about energy resources.
Grades: 6-12
Subjects: Social St
udies, Economics
Case Study: Life-C
ycle Analysis
Format: Research,
Debate
Nighttime Flight
Grades: 9-12
Subjects: Life Scie
nces, Biology
Profile: Bat Ecolog
ist
Format: Independen
t Research
Economics of Wind
Grades: 9-12
Subject: Wind Farm
Development
Case Study: Wind
Farm Comparison
Format: Presentatio
n
cts of Energy Choic
es
Students learn ho
w to complete a lif
e-cycle analysis an
overall costs and
d compare the
benefits of wind en
ergy in comparison
solar, biofuel, and
to fossil fuel,
hydroelectric powe
r. Students prepar
and participate in
e their cases
a classroom deba
te.
Students learn ho
w ecologists resear
ch bat populations
potential impacts
and discuss the
of wind turbines.
Students analyze
determine optimal
re
al
-life data and
locations for wind
farms. Students sh
proposals through
ar
e location
multimedia presen
tations or reports.
Students take on
the role of wind de
veloper and determ
and scale of wind
ine which size
farm will optimiz
e their investmen
how to balance en
t. Students learn
ergy output with th
e costs of turbine
installation, and en
siting, purchase,
ergy transmission.
ise
Become a WindW
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