Lesson Plan

What are Wind Shear and Turbulence?

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This What are Wind Shear and Turbulence? lesson plan also includes:

Let's go fly a kite. By flying a kite, class members observe the difference in air flow. The class notices the characteristics of banners tied to the kite string to determine where wind turbulence stops. Adding an anemometer to measure wind speeds gives participants another data point to collect. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Use the 45-45-90 triangle side length relationship to determine the height of the kite
  • Fly the kite in different locations in order to gather wind data at different places around the school
Classroom Considerations
  • The day needs to be windy in order to fly the kite
  • Sixth in a 19-part series
Pros
  • A high school extension included uses trigonometry to determine heights
  • The grading information provides a general idea of what should be observed
Cons
  • Might be difficult to find a suitable place to fly a kite
Common Core