Design a turbine to harness the power of the wind and convert it into electricity. This STEM | STEAM | Maker project is truly green engineering. Start with your example build, testing through inquiry and experimentation. Then, iterate new designs and additions to transform the wind turbine into your own unique design. 

Create the blades utilizing recycling bin materials.  Adjust the angle, pitch and amount of blades to observe the electrical output of your wind turbine. We included plenty of extra components to try different designs.

Use a multimeter and alligator clip leads to measure the electrical output of your wind turbine.

This activity is a favorite for kitchen table innovation, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, universities, scout troops, camps, 4-H groups, and maker spaces. It's a wonderful activity for parents, grandparents or teachers to work on with their kids.

For ages 12 and up, click here

If you are working with ages 6-11, you can choose how to complete the Mini Wind Turbine Activity.

• Choice #1 Without Labs: Go straight from the Build Guide to the Engineering Challenge, skipping the Optional Lab. This option works well when you’re doing the activity outside of a classroom, in a Makerspace, as a self-directed activity, or just for fun.
• Choice #2 With Labs: Start with the Build Guide. After the build, an Optional Lab is available to learn more about rotors and the effect on turbine output voltage. Once finished, move on to improve your design in the Engineering Challenge. This option works well when you want to teach this activity to a class or during a class visit to a Makerspace.

MS Word or PDF - Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word™) version.

     Build Guide     

Start by building the mini wind turbine using the Build Guide. This will be a great design to get you started. You’ll start to create your own amazing designs during the engineering challenges.

• Basic Build Guide: PDF or MS Word

     Optional Lab     

• Mini Wind Turbine Lab: PDF or MS Word-- Your Mini Wind Turbine is built. Explore how changing the blade configurations will affect your turbine output. (Suggested Grade Levels: 4-5)

     Engineering Challenge     

• Design & Engineering Challenge: : PDF or MS Word -- It’s time to take what you know about Mini Wind Turbines and take it to the next level. Create a turbine with the greatest output in this Engineering Challenge.

For ages 6-11, click here

If you are working with ages 6-11, you can choose how to complete the Mini Wind Turbine Activity.

• Choice #1 Without Labs: Go straight from the Build Guide to the Engineering Challenge, skipping the Optional Lab. This option works well when you’re doing the activity outside of a classroom, in a Makerspace, as a self-directed activity, or just for fun.
• Choice #2 With Labs: Start with the Build Guide. After the build, an Optional Lab is available to learn more about rotors and the effect on turbine output voltage. Once finished, move on to improve your design in the Engineering Challenge. This option works well when you want to teach this activity to a class or during a class visit to a Makerspace.

MS Word or PDF - Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word™) version.

     Build Guide     

Start by building the mini wind turbine using the Build Guide. This will be a great design to get you started. You’ll start to create your own amazing designs during the engineering challenges.

• Basic Build Guide: PDF or MS Word

     Optional Lab     

• Mini Wind Turbine Lab: PDF or MS Word-- Your Mini Wind Turbine is built. Explore how changing the blade configurations will affect your turbine output. (Suggested Grade Levels: 4-5)

     Engineering Challenge     

• Design & Engineering Challenge: : PDF or MS Word -- It’s time to take what you know about Mini Wind Turbines and take it to the next level. Create a turbine with the greatest output in this Engineering Challenge.

What tools will you need to do this activity?

Sets of tools can be found here.
 

Make your Mini Wind Turbine even better by incorporating recycling bin material.

What's in the Mini Wind Turbine Activity?

This is an educational product and not a toy. It is intended for use by ages 9 and above with adult supervision.