Wind Energy
Overview
Wind Energy is a STEM education program is designed to engage students in learning about energy and sustainability. It uses the theme of renewable energy to harness students’ interest in and concern about climate change and rising energy costs. The inquiry-based and hands-on learning program engages and challenges both students and teachers. Career profiles encourage students to understand the use and influence of science.
The Wind Energy resource includes class sets of purpose-designed and built equipment as well as curriculum materials available in soft copy.
The resource maps to the Australian Curriculum Science, primarily at Year 8, but can be modified for use from year 6 though to senior secondary levels.
The STELR Wind Energy module was developed from the broader STELR Renewable Energy module.
STELR Wind Energy Curriculum materials
The activities included in the STELR Wind Energy curriculum materials allow students to:
- discuss climate change causes and effects,
- find out about types of energy and how energy can be transferred from place to place and transformed from one type to another
- investigate energy resources both renewable and non-renewable
- find out about energy conservation and efficiency
- investigate batteries and electric circuits,
- study wind turbines using inquiry-based hands-on activities,
- design and run investigations to answer their own inquiry questions
- find out about careers in the renewable energy industry
The STELR Wind Energy program is designed to be a 4-6 week course; however, it can be modified to suit the needs of your students.
STELR Wind Energy Books
The STELR Wind Energy teacher and student books are available in soft copy. The student books are designed to be kept by students who write in them as they complete the unit.
Wind Energy Student Book – Word (7MB)
Wind Energy Student Book – PDF (3MB)
Wind Energy Teacher Book – Word (3MB)
Wind Energy Teacher Book – PDF (2MB)
This module is not supported by hard copy books.
Global Warming – Cold Facts, Hot Science
STELR produced a video in 2010 entitled Global Warming – Cold Facts, Hot Science. It is intended to be used as stimulus material for classroom discussion on the effects of Climate Change.
STELR Wind Energy USB
A USB is available for purchase ($10). It includes digital copies of the student booklet and teacher guide in both word and pdf formats. A number of PowerPoint presentations and other useful resources are included including the STELR DVD – Global Warming – Cold facts – Hot science.
STELR Wind Energy Equipment Kits
The STELR Wind Energy Equipment class sets include all the equipment required for students to undertake investigations into energy transfers and transformations and the generation of electricity using wind turbines.
STELR equipment encourages both guided and open-ended research. It has been designed and developed in Australia specifically for STELR and is robust, simple and easy to use.
How to purchase STELR resources
To purchase a class set of STELR Wind Energy equipment and curriculum resources, download and complete the order form below and send it, along with a school purchase order number, to STELR.admin@atse.org.au
Individual Wind Energy kits can also be purchased using the form.
STELR Wind Energy Equipment Pack
This kit is similar to the Standard Renewable Energy kit, without the solar equipment. It supports the STELR Wind Energy Module.
The order from below is for the minimum amount of equipment required for a class set. If you wish to vary the order, please contact the STELR office for a customised order form.
Spare Parts
Wind Energy spare parts can be ordered from:
Industrial Equipment and Control (IEC)
Ph: +61 3 9497 2555
Fax: +61 3 9497 2166
Email: iec@iecpl.com.au
When ordering extra equipment items please quote the part number listed here.
How to use STELR Wind Energy equipment
STELR Ranging Multimeter
The STELR Ranging multimeter replaced the older STELR Multimeter during 2018.
- Contact stelr.admin@atse.org.au for an instructional powerpoint to be sent to you
Instructions sheets for the STELR measuring devices
PDFs of the instruction sheets that accompany some of the STELR devices can be downloaded here:
STELR Wind turbine and hub
Setting up the wind turbine to generate electricity
Watch a video that shows how to set up the wind turbine to generate electricity and light a lamp in the STELR test rig
Measuring blade angle for the STELR wind turbine
Step by step instructions on how to measure blade angle using either the marks on the wind turbine hub or the downloadable STELR protractor.
You can also see a video showing how to measure the blade angle.
Measuring the power output from the STELR wind turbine
This video shows you how to use two multimeters, one as an ammeter and one as a voltmeter, to measure the power produces by the wind turbine