I have written about wind turbines several times, but the more we travel, the more I see them, and the more ideas I have for authentic projects. We just finished driving through Kansas, and I have never seen so many wind turbines. The really neat thing is that we saw them on farms, and the farmers were still farming below the turbines.
To say the we have energy concerns on this planet is an understatement. I think it is fair to say that we all want the same thing: reliable, safe, clean energy. The arguments are about how we get there.
How to wind turbines work? How is the energy produced and transported? How far can the energy be transported? Can the energy be stored?
What are the pros and cons of wind turbines? Do people want them in their backyard? I happen to think they are attractive, but there are people who do not. Are they a danger to wildlife?
Design a wind turbine that people might find more attractive. Design a turbine that solves any problems you found in your research. Make a model of how a turbine works. Locate a good spot for a turbine where you live. Make a proposal for a new wind turbine.
And if this project turns into a project about the history of windmills in Holland…that is authentic learning.
