Wonderful Weather Vanes!

The weather vane

This week Ms. Wasney surprised us with a science project. The science project was to create a weather vane with our table group. We got to use a wooden dowel, 1 meter of masking tape, plasticine, 4 straight pins, a ruler, 4 straws, manila tag paper, scissors, markers, and a pencil.  First we had to sketch a design of what we thought it should look like and then label it.  Then after we modeled it we would test it and see if it worked. How did we test it? Our teacher brought in her hairdryer.  After we tested if there was something wrong with the design we had to write down some improvements. After we did all of the adjustments, and tested them again to make sure they worked we sketched down the final design! After we were finish our final design we would do some reflecting about the project like what worked, what didn’t work, two things you thought you did well and something that you would do next time. Then we fill in our log book about our table group. We had to do 7 questions.  There was a place you had to start. Ms. Wasney wrote a “problem” which was: “you are working for a local sky diving company and are asked to design (and build) an instrument to determine wind directions. But there was a criteria which was:

àThe weather vane indicates four cardinal wind directions (N, E, S, W)

àMust be able to withstand two different wind speeds.

àMust be reliable during numerous tests.

àUses only the materials provided

àDesign should promote the skydiving company

àthe log book should be neat and have all quietens completed

By: Carly, Lindsay and Kyla