The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills (Paperback)

by Gretchen Woelfle (Author) "Night fell on the flatlands of Holland..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Zond Corporation, Fold Color (more...)

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.

Product Description
Gretchen Woelfle traces the history of windmills and how their design and function have changed over times and includes more than a dozen wind-related activities such as making a wind sock and wind vane, cooking a traditional windmiller meal, sewing windmill patterns, and keeping track of a household's energy use. 75 b&w photos, 14 illus., 15 charts & graphs.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (June 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556523084
• ISBN-13: 978-1556523083
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.1 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.com Sales Rank: #179,998 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #38 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > How Things Work
  #47 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Weather > Nonfiction
  #48 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Geography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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

By	ilium14 (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

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.