Ge t

on t
h
and e Magi
lear c
n ab Wind
out… Bus

Problem Based Learning:

How can I create an original machine to
accurately measure wind speed and
direction for four weeks?
 Ms. Frizzle’s Wind Breaker Team

I’m Katelyn Kingseed, and

I love being Ms. Frizzle’s
consultant communicator,
and data collector.

Hi! I’m Meredith Doepner,

and I work on Ms. Frizzle’s
team as a data collector,
and recorder.

Hello! I’m Rachel Landa

and I help update Ms.
Frizzle’s website and
collect data.

"The Magic Wind Bus"

 Steps to Investigation!
Brainstormed…
Investigative Question, Machine Designs,
Consultants How Inve
ill the stigative Q
w
speed daily weat uestion:
an d d h
irectio er patterns
Next… n of t a
he wi ffect the
nd?
Purchased materials, Constructed and calibrated the machine,
Made data collection schedule, Started 4 week data collection

Finally…
Designed group website, Started presentation
Finished data collection/data table
online/website
 What you might find!
Data Table
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ahpxn7z_l3ZddFhkZzNoT195dzd
HSklFYXBkRjFsLUE&hl=en&authkey=CNGBy_wP#gid=0
Group Website
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheWindbreakers/126564847398074?v=wall
 Graphing our Results
18

16

14

12

10
Calculated Windspeed (mph)
National Weather Service Wind Speed (mph)
8

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
 What have we learned?
• Our data did not show a consistent relationship between daily weather
patterns and the speed and direction of the wind.

• Wind and Weather ARE related, but are also very different.
– We get wind when air flows from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
– The weather patterns are based on the location of those areas of high and low pressure.
• High pressure usually brings clear weather.
• Low pressure usually brings stormy weather

• There must be another component in addition to

weather patterns causing the wind to
behave in such a manner.
 How could we improve?
• In the future we would…
– Test more machine designs
before finalizing ours
– Make more specific jobs for
team members from the
beginning
– Involve all subject areas
• With a special emphasis on
physical education, art, and
literacy
– Change the variable we
tested
A word from our Consultant
 In your own classroom…
• Implementing PBL in your own classroom
– Steps for you to take
– Rain Gauge
• Technology
– E-mail
– Internet
– Microsoft Office
• In a Special Education Classroom
 Sources Used:
Information Retrieved from: http://
library.thinkquest.org/5818/globalwinds.html

Information Retrieved from: http://learn.kidwind.org/

Information Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/