On the morning of Wednesday 21 October, members of the BladeUp project team visited all three Year 6 classes to deliver a fun and interactive presentation on wind turbine technology. The sessions supported the pupils’ learning as they prepared to build their own Vestas paper model wind turbine kits later that day.
Throughout the morning, pupils explored where wind comes from, how it exerts forces on objects, and the concepts of drag, lift and aerodynamics. They learned how wind turbines use lift to spin their blades and generate electricity, why turbine blades are made from lightweight composite materials, and how wind energy can contribute to a more sustainable future.
A number of interactive demonstrations helped bring these concepts to life. Pupils investigated drag forces using a cup rotor and took part in races between miniature sail-powered cars with different sail shapes. By far the most popular activity was the helicopter spinner demonstration, used to illustrate the principles of lift, with pupils delighting in launching the spinners high into the air around the classroom.
The pupils also had the opportunity to handle model wind turbines and samples of carbon fibre, learning how blade shape, weight and material selection can influence turbine performance.
Dr Francesco Mitrotta said: “What a blast visiting the Year 6 classes at St Michael’s Primary School! Explaining how wind turbines work was a great reminder that research shouldn’t live only in scientific publications. It needs to connect with wider society and show why what we do matters.
“It was a stimulating challenge to find accessible ways to explain wind energy engineering to primary school pupils, and the hands-on demonstrations made it a lot of fun. Few things are as rewarding as watching the pupils listen so attentively and seeing their surprise when the paper lifted as I blew across the top of it to show how lift works.
“Best of all, a couple of them felt inspired to study these things when they grow up!”
Year 6 teacher Mr Ollie Williams said: “The BladeUp project was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 6 pupils to learn about renewable energy from industry professionals. The visitors inspired thoughtful discussions about sustainability and encouraged children to consider how innovation can help address environmental challenges.
“Our pupils were highly engaged throughout the session and asked some excellent questions about wind turbines and sustainable energy. Experiences like this bring learning to life and help children understand how science and technology can shape the future.”