Year 6 · Autumn 1.2 · Step 4

Earth & Space

Wind power

How wind turbines spin a generator to make clean electricity — and the myths worth busting.

Arrival Starter I do We do Independent Exit ticket
🌱 Seedling · Working towards 🌿 Sapling · Expected 🌳 Oak · Greater depth

⏱ Whole lesson ≈ 44 min · pick a tier in the bar, or leave on "All"

Arrival 4 min

Recap of last lesson: solar power.

Recap: solar power

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Solar panels turn ____ into electricity.

🌿 Sapling
Expected
  1. One advantage of solar?
  2. One disadvantage?
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

What other free, renewable thing could we use to make electricity?

Bridge into todayThe Sun isn't the only free source. Today: making electricity from the wind.
Starter 5 min

Where have pupils seen wind turbines? Hills, coast, offshore.

Power from the wind

Wind turbines use wind to turn their blades, which spins a generator to make electricity. It's wind power — renewable, with no greenhouse gases.

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Wind turbines use ____ to make electricity.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

What spins inside a turbine to make electricity?

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

What might be a downside of relying only on wind power?

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models. Watch, then list an advantage and a disadvantage.

How wind turbines work

▶ Can't see it? Watch "How does wind energy work? — KS2" on YouTube

Swap the clip: change the ID after /embed/ (now ssqPloBP-zM).

Say thisWind pushes the blades, which turn a shaft connected to a generator that makes electricity. It's renewable and clean — but it only works when it's windy, and some people don't like how turbines look.
🍃
Wind spins bladesfree energy
No gasesclean
🌬️
Needs windweather-dependent
We do · 1 6 min

Build a pros/cons list for wind together.

Good points and drawbacks

👍 no greenhouse gases · wind is free · can power many homes  |  👎 only works when windy · some dislike the look

Fair view
Wind is clean and renewable, but it depends on the weather — no wind, no power.
A good scientist gives both sides.
I do · 2 4 min

Play the animation. Bust: turbines kill lots of birds / wind is expensive.

Wind becomes electricity

💨 wind spins the blades → generator → electricity

The wind turns the blades, which spin a generator to make electricity.

Model the ideaModern wind power is now one of the cheapest ways to make electricity. Turbines are not usually lethal to birds — energy companies work to keep risk to wildlife low.

Watch for: "wind turbines kill lots of birds" and "wind power is really expensive".

We do · 2 5 min

Sort statements: advantage or disadvantage of wind?

Advantage or drawback?

Decide together
"Makes no greenhouse gases."   "Only works when it's windy."   "The wind is free."
Which are advantages of wind power, and which are disadvantages?
Independent 10 min

On your own. Sort each card, then write at your tier.

Wind power sorter

👍 Advantage of wind

👎 Disadvantage of wind

🚫 Myth to bust

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Wind turbines use ____ to make electricity.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Sort them, then write one advantage and one disadvantage of wind power.

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Explain how a wind turbine makes electricity, and answer the "birds" myth fairly.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling
Working towards
  • What do wind turbines use?
  • Is wind power renewable?
🌿 Sapling
Expected
  • Give one advantage of wind power.
  • Give one disadvantage.
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Are wind turbines a big danger to birds? Explain what you know.

TA Focus · Wind power
Key chain: wind → blades → generator → electricity, no greenhouse gases. For the sorter, ask 'plus or minus for wind?' Two myths: turbines 'kill lots of birds' (risk is kept low) and wind is 'expensive' (now one of the cheapest).
Cold Call · Question bank
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