The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Suggested Age: Grades 3-5
Submitted by Imelda Corpuz-Amano, School Librarian, Manoa Elementary School
Book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
Activity: Pre-reading activity
Materials:
- One copy of the book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Instruction:
- Chat with your child(ren) about windmills (what they are, how they operate and their function; possibly relate to idea of sustainability, natural resources or engineering).
- Chat about how not having enough water affects daily life and how people in other countries have to find water in creative ways.
- Read the book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
- May want to share this video about the real William Kamkwamba from YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzlgyDAMupw
Post Reading Activity: Make a Pinwheel (closest to a windmill)
Materials:
- Paper or card stock
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Pencil with eraser
- Push pin
Instructions:
Follow eight short easy steps at the following site (includes pinwheel templates): https://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Nature/pinwheel/pinwheel.html
If your child is very curious about windmills and would like to build one, a kit may be available at Thinker Toys Kahala Mall OR online resources such as this: https://www.vernier.com/products/kidwind/wind-energy/kits/kw-bwx/
YouTube videos of children making and experimenting with windmills:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwkd1nXAtCU
Related Books: The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills paperback by Gretchen Woelfle, Katje the Windmill Cat by Gretchen Woelfle, and Feel the Wind by Arthur Dorros.