We are wrapping up our organized study of the wind!  This was such an amazing study!!  I will make the final notes of what we did in this post, along with a listing of helpful books that we used.  Even though I have these studies listed as five days, it took us about a couple of weeks to get through.  In other words, we did not study the wind every day!  And just as a disclaimer, this is the way we do every unit we study, at our own family's pace, fitting them in as we are able.

Windy Words - Haiku Poetry

By doing a search on the internet, I came across a fantastic website that gave a lesson plan for studying weather in which I was able to find some super things for studying wind.  I will post the main website below in the internet site list.  While looking through the website I came across a lesson called Windy Words.  This gave us a couple of things we could do for Language Arts.  We only actually completed one of the lessons from this page, Haiku poetry, and the other is tucked away for later.

First we studied all about Japanese Haiku poetry.  During which we looked at our world map and each of the kids pointed out Japan, where Haiku originated, and we had a short discussion of how close we were to Japan when we were in China.

I had checked out a few books from the library (again which I'll list below) and first learned the basics about Haiku.  Traditional Haiku poetry follows these guidelines:

- poem is short, only three lines and is written in 17 syllables, following a pattern of 5, 7, 5 syllables

- poem, while compact, exhibits words which invoke strong feelings and paints a clear mental picture (imagery)

- poem is about nature and seasons and the feelings they produce

- poem doesn't have to rhyme

Next the kids and I reviewed what a syllable is and what imagery is.  Then we brainstormed a list of words associated with wind.

We next read some examples of Haiku from some of the books we had and after that, using the above words for inspiration, we composed our own Haiku poetry:

Wind rush through the trees

Your howl is like a lion

Your howl blows everything

Gust of wind blows by

Leaves swirl sideways and downward

Colors all around

Winter day breeze blows

Shivering under my coat

Warm fire awaits

Science Experiment - Does Wind/Air Weigh?

We found an excellent and simple book at the library on the science of wind called I Face the Wind, by v. Cobb.  This book has several very simple activities to demonstrate different aspects of the science of wind.  We did them all from the book, but I'll just feature the one that answered the question, "Does the wind/air weigh?"

We gathered together our supplies:  two balloons, a hanger, pencil, and tape.

Next, I posed the question to the kids if they thought wind, or air, weighs.  Then we filled out the top half of the Science Journal.  On to the experiment!  We attached both deflated balloons, one to each side, on the hanger, then hung the hanger on a pencil.  We observed that the hanger was very even showing that the deflated balloons weighed the same.  Then we blew up one of the balloons and re-attached it, then showing us that there was a slight tilt proving that air does in fact weigh.  Demonstrating the reason why wind has power behind it and we feel it.

Finally, they finished up the notes on their Science Journals and drew a picture if they wanted.

Resources

I Face the Wind, by V. Cobb - Great SIMPLE science experiments about wind and air.

Haiku Books:

Flower Moon Snow, by K. Mizumura

Don't Step on the Sky, by M. Chaikin

Black Swan White Crow, by J.P. Lewis

Picture Books:

The Wind Blew by P. Hutchins

Gilberto and the Wind by M. Hall

Informational Books:

The Weather Book, by M. Oard - Christian Perspective

100 Things You Should Know About Weather, by C. Oliver

Websites:

The North Wind and the Sun - Aesop's Fables

Wind Energy - this website I just recently found, but the educational lesson plans look great.  I haven't had much time to look through them, but I know they are not written from a Christian Scientist perspective, but it still looks like theres LOTS of great stuff to use.  I may try to incorporate some of this in last minute into our studies.

KidWind - Another great website full of lesson plans and stuff to use!

Weather Studies - this is where I found the "Windy Words" lesson, however there is LOTS more stuff to use here.  There are two lessons, one for lower grades, and one for upper.

Haiku Poetry - basics and worksheets

Weather Wiz Kids - Wind