SLWK8 Middle School STEAM students in Mrs. Boham’s class created wind turbines to learn about technician and engineering careers in the natural and renewable energy sectors. All students were able to meet the design brief to lift one washer, which weighed 9 grams. Three teams created turbines that lifted 20 washers or 175 grams! They put the engineering design process through a workout by testing and improving numerous times to create an aerodynamic blade and support structure to lift such a heavy payload. They experimented with different blade shapes and amounts to harness the power of wind to execute their desired task. Working as a team, they devised a plan, made assignments for different tasks, and calculated supplies to fit into a budget.
