Power for the world - Practical Action

Additional information

A link to secondary and primary packs and powerpoints, as well as technical briefs and a case study, for the Practical Action power for the world activity.

If you teach primary science, see the headings below to find out how to use this resource:

Skill development

Children will develop their working scientifically skills by:

• Asking their own questions about scientific phenomena.
• Selecting and planning the most appropriate ways to answer questions, including:
  • Researching using a wide range of secondary sources of information.
  • Carrying out comparative and fair tests.
• Drawing conclusions and raising further questions to be investigated, based on their data and observations.
• Using appropriate scientific language and ideas to explain, evaluate and communicate their methods and findings

Learning outcomes

Children will:

• Design and test wind turbines according to the resources they have available due to different circumstances and environments.

Concepts supported

Children will learn:

• That sources of renewable energy are important to developing countries with limited resources.
• That many modern day appliances use electricity and that their consumption isn’t equal.
• How electricity can be produced, in particular by renewable sources.

Suggested activity use

This resource is ideally suited for a whole-class investigation, with children working in small groups, but it can be adapted for a smaller group focus, for example a science club. This activity is also well suited to being a part of a school enrichment day.

It provides an opportunity for cross-curricular links with design technology to solve a practical problem.

Practical considerations

The resource doesn’t address any curriculum statements in particular, but does provide useful opportunities for group work and problem solving.