The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills [Paperback]

Gretchen Woelfle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 1997 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The Wind at Work traces the history of windmills and how their design and function have changed over time. It includes more than a dozen wind-related activities such as conducting science experiments, cooking a traditional windmiller meal, sewing windmill patterns, and keeping track of household energy use. Information on how wind turbines (modern windmills) can produce energy as an alternative to nonrenewable fossil fuels is covered as well.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8. This combination of science, history, and activities centers around the use of wind as a source of power. The historical information is excellent, and includes Persian windmills of 1000 years ago, Dutch windmills of the 17th century, and modern wind turbines. Amusing anecdotes and intriguing facts are woven into the text, keeping it lively. An American farmer brags about all of the tasks his windmill accomplishes, including sawing wood, running a washing machine, and powering a pipe organ. A fascinating section on a windmiller's daily life reveals how the expression "rule of thumb" came to be. Black-and-white historical prints, photographs, and diagrams appear throughout. The mechanics of various windmills are briefly explained, but the emphasis is more on what the machines can do rather than on how they work. The well-balanced presentation offers worldwide coverage and objective information regarding the pros and cons of wind power compared to other sources. Each chapter ends with instructions for several projects. Some, like making a wind sock and wind vane, are directly related to wind power. Many others, though, have a vaguer connection. Activities such as "Create Landscape Art" and "Sing a Song of the American West" may not capture the imagination of children exploring the book on their own, but could work perfectly as resources for teachers or parents. Appendixes include a list of windmills and turbine sites, energy associations, environmental groups, and related career opportunities. A worthwhile purchase.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Gretchen Woelfle is an award-winning author of picture books, short stories, and environmental nonfiction. She has written for Cricket Spider and Cicada magazines and the anthology series Stories from Where We Live. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (June 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556523084
• ISBN-13: 978-1556523083
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 11 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wind at Work gets kids thinking, November 25, 2008

By 

ilium14 (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills (Paperback)

We bought this book for our five-year-old godson and he loves it. The author gives detailed explanations of various aspects of the wind's power, and ends chapters with crafts & experiments that demonstrate how wind works. I was worried the book might be too hard for a five-year-old, but he reads it with his mother and then they make the windmills etc. together and have a good time. Great book for getting kids interested in science.