Explain how a water wheel can do work. Materials corks, cans, paper cups, plastic spoons nails, straight pins, thumbtacks milk cartons, foil, pie plates, egg cartons containers of various sizes with plastic tops straws, string, elastics, wire empty thread spools measuring cup, water, basin ruler Assessment Record the participation and effectiveness of students in building their rotors and recording data. Have individual students explain their graphed data recorded in different locations. Have them compare the graphs of two locations and explain why they are different. Assess whether each student's discussion and graphs show a realistic understanding of the way his or her windmill would work.
Options Have students describe several possible windmills.
The uses can be practical or imaginary. Have students make a drawing of one use of a windmill, labeling the parts and describing what they do. Discuss modern adaptations of these old but enduring technologies. Have students investigate the use of windmills, called wind turbines, for generating electricity.