The Windmill STEM project was a multidisciplinary initiative implemented by a team of three middle school teachers: Mr. Birundu (Science), Mr. AR (ELA), and Ms. Salad (Social Studies). The project was inspired by the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and aimed to integrate science, engineering, literacy, and social studies to provide students with a comprehensive learning experience. The goal was for students to construct a windmill capable of generating electricity while exploring its real-world applications and significance. This project was conducted during Semester 1.
Project Design and Implementation The project was structured into multiple phases across different subjects:
- ELA Component:
- Students read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and analyzed the challenges faced by the main character, William Kamkwamba.
- They wrote reports on the engineering design process, focusing on problem identification and solution development.
- Emphasis was placed on how William identified the lack of electricity and water scarcity in his community and engineered a windmill to address these issues.
- Science and Engineering Component:
- Students applied physics and engineering concepts to construct a model of a windmill.
- They explored renewable energy principles, mechanics, and electricity generation.
- Hands-on activities included designing windmill blades, assembling the structure, and testing energy output.
- Social Studies Component:
- Students researched climate change and the importance of clean energy sources.
- They wrote reports on how wind energy contributes to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating global climate change.
- They analyzed real-world case studies of countries using wind energy as a sustainable solution.
