Sustainable Engineers
In the previous weeks, we have learned how wind turbines work, and have visited a wind farm. Wind generated electricity is just one form of sustainable energy production. Sustainable energy production is any form of energy production which does not deplete or otherwise damage a resource, and can therefore be used continuously or repeatedly without harm to the planet. Other methods of producing electricity which are sustainable are solar power, wave power and hydro electric power. One of the most impressive examples of hydro electric power can be found at Cruachan Hydro Electric Power Station and Visitor's Centre, near to Oban.
In the past ...
... coal was king ! For years, to produce electricity, we burned some form of fossil fuel. Often this was coal, but it could also be oil or gas. This fuel was burned to heat water to the point where it turned to steam, and the steam was directed, through pipework, onto the blades of generators. This turned the generator, producing electricity, which was then transmitted, through the grid system, to homes, factories and anywhere else where electricity was needed !
Clicking the image of the light bulb open an in depth video explaining how the exlectricity generated by power stations gets to your house !
The demands of ... demand !
In the UK we have the national grid, a huge system of power generation and transmission which has to produce enough power to keep everyone in the UK happy, but not so much power that we can't use it all! Maintaining this balance is a complex operation. To find out more click the image below, entitled "How the National Grid responds to demand".
Building a simple Wind Turbine
There are many videos on you tube which explain how you can build a simple wind turbine. Click the image below to watch one example. This is a very engaging activity to do with children, and incorporates Science, Technology AND Engineering. When working with older children, you could even build a Maths element into the task, too.
Building a more complex wind turbine
Suited, perhaps, to older children, this video has them building a wind turbine that, when the wind is blowing, illuminates a small light. This gets closer to doing what a 'real' wind turbine does, leaving the teacher with the task of explaining how the power might be stored for using when the power is NEEDED at times of high demand.
Promoting Higher Order Thinking
In the video on the left, a group of students present their model wind turbines, and then explain what they could do to make the device work more effectively or efficiently. This kind of exercise is all about analysing and problem solving, and is one of the higher order skills described in Blooms Taxonomy.
To find out more about Bloom's taxonomy, read the section on this method of classification in the Resources tab at the top of the page. You could apply the same process to any task where the children have designed and built something.
The process of reflecting on the exercise, and being able to honestly critique and, if necessary, improve their work helps develop and build resilience, and is an important life skill.
Wind Turbines
A final thought !
In this video Tom Scott climbs up inside a wind turbine to the control room at the top, and then comes down again ... without using the stairs !
