Objective

Students will measure approximate wind speed and direction.

Materials

• Wood
• Tacks
• Nails
• Cardboard
• Cardstock
• Tape
• Fan Anemometer Instructions
• Compass
• Nature journals
• Beaufort Wind Speed Scale handout
• Flag or wind sock
• Newspaper weather reports

Procedure

1. Arrange students into groups of 3 or 4.  Provide each group with the materials to construct a fan anemometer and a copy of the instructions.  Allow approximately 30 minutes for anemometer construction.
2. Use a flag or wind sock to determine the wind direction.  Use a compass to determine the exact direction the wind is coming from.  Have students record the proper direction in their nature journals.
3. As a class, calibrate the scales on the students’ fan anemometers using the Beaufort Wind Speed Scale.  Record the approximate wind speed in nature journals.
4. Back in class, compare the students’ wind speed and direction observations with the newspaper weather-reported data.  How accurate were students’ observations?  What could account for inconsistencies?
5. Have students record wind speed and direction using their anemometers and compasses for at least a week.  Each day, have them compare their data with the newspaper weather reports and adjust their calibrations accordingly.  Challenge students to adjust their anemometers to be as accurate as possible.

Extension

Research how wind speed and direction changes as storm systems approach and pass over a region.

Fan Anemometer Instructions

1. Nail the wood post to the base.
2. Cut a quarter section of a circle from cardboard and tack this cardboard section to the post as shown in the diagram below.
3. Place a nail in the top of the post.
4. Cut a rectangular piece of cardstock the width of which is slightly shorter than the length of the nail in the top of the post, and whose length is slightly shorter than the radius of the quarter circle section tacked to the post.
5. Tape the cardstock rectangle to the nail so that it swings freely.

Beaufort Wind Speed Scale