What Causes the Wind?

In this lesson, sudents will dive into the reason that wind exists. Through hands-on experiments that demonstrate how air pressure differences influence wind patterns, students will gain a better understanding of wind and our ability to harness its power. Students will also build a barometer to learn about how we can measure aspects of the wind.

The Details

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Grades
6th - 8th Grade
Time Required
3-4 class periods

Materials

  • Bottle with an opening smaller than an egg
  • Peeled hardboiled egg
  • Box of matches
  • Small piece of paper
  • Soda can
  • Hot plate
  • Tray
  • Tongs
  • Table
  • Large garbage bag
  • Straws
  • 12-18″ of clear plastic tubing
  • Balloons that can fit tightly over tubing
  • Clamp

Next Generation Science Standards

Cross-Cutting Concepts

  • Cause & Effect
  • Energy & Matter

Disciplinary Core Ideas

  • ESS2.D Weather & Climate
  • PS2.B Types of Interactions
  • PS3.A Definitions of Energy

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the relationship between temperature and pressure in the context of the gasses in the atmosphere
  • Understand the forces that cause wind
  • Be able to explain how the pressure of a fluid changes with speed

Resources

Video Demo