Make a windmill
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can make my windmill freestanding.
Key learning points
- Windmill structures can be made from different mixed materials.
- Consider the right shape and size when choosing the windmill material.
- Adding ballast or base support can make structures stable.
- Finished windmills are decorated.
Keywords
Ballast - a heavy material used to keep something upright or in position
Structure - how something is built or put together
Freestanding - something standing up by itself
Stable - something is in place and will not fall over
Common misconception
Windmills just need a wide base to stand by themselves.
When the wind catches them, they move or fall - windmills need ballast to secure them.
Teacher tip
Have a wide variety of resources for pupils to choose from. Time outside, if weather permits for testing. Skills focused upon such as scissors, scooping ballast, using joining methods.
Equipment
Scissors, recyclable materials, sticky tape, masking tape, PVA glue, glue sticks, rice, oats, sand, small stones, food bags, pencils, felt pens, crayons, paint and other decorating materials.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a material?
Q2.Which of these are materials?
Q3.Which of these objects are made from more than one material?
Q4.Match the object to the material it is made from.
glass
metal
paper
wool
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What does freestanding mean?
Q2.Ballast is something __________ that helps keep a structure stable.
Q3.Which of the following is a good material for ballast?
Q4.To help to stabilise a paper windmill you can use __________ or __________ to stick supports to the base.
To help you plan your 1 design and technology lesson on: Make a windmill, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 design and technology lesson on: Make a windmill, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 design and technology lessons from the Rotary mechanisms: windmills unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.