icon-background-square
New
New
Year 1

Finishing and testing windmill mechanisms

I can finish and test my windmill.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 1

Finishing and testing windmill mechanisms

I can finish and test my windmill.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Testing a windmill can be completed inside or outside.
  2. A successful windmill will stand on its own.
  3. A successful windmill will have sails that rotate.
  4. Testing is an important way to check that the windmill works.

Keywords

  • Testing - trying something to see if it works and to make changes or improvement to it

  • Feedback - comments or suggestions on how to improve a product

  • Axle - a rod that holds the sail in place and allows it to turn

  • Success criteria - a list which helps to see if the object does what it is expected to do

  • Evaluate - checking how good something is and how to make it better

Common misconception

Windmill have to be tested inside

The windmill can be tested inside or outside depending upon the conditions and supervision.


To help you plan your year 1 design and technology lesson on: Finishing and testing windmill mechanisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Take photos of windmill process ready for final lesson. Use pre-cut wooden dowels for axles. This lesson may need a longer session.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Scissors, chosen material, sail template, pencils, felt pens and crayons, sticky tack and pencil, split pin, thick straw, wooden dowel, worksheet

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

4 Questions

Q1.
What is used in the model windmill to help to keep it upright?
balls
Correct answer: ballast
bricks
Q2.
Which of these are good materials to use as ballast in a model windmill?
water
Correct answer: sand
Correct answer: oats
oil
Q3.
What does freestanding mean?
stands up by itself and then falls over
does not stand up by itself
Correct answer: stands up by itself and does not fall over
Q4.
A ___________ is what something is made from.
Correct answer: material
object

4 Questions

Q1.
What is an axle on a windmill?
a tool used to build the windmill
Correct answer: a rod that holds the sail in place and allows it to turn
the base that keeps the windmill standing
the decorative part of the windmill
Q2.
Which of these can be used to make an axle for a model windmill?
Correct answer: thick straw
plastic bottle
Correct answer: wooden dowel
cardboard box
Correct answer: split pin
Q3.
Match the word to the meaning.
Correct Answer:testing,trying something to see if it works and to make changes or improvement
tick

trying something to see if it works and to make changes or improvement

Correct Answer:feedback,comments or suggestions on how to improve a product
tick

comments or suggestions on how to improve a product

Correct Answer:success criteria,a list which helps to see if the object does what it is expected to do
tick

a list which helps to see if the object does what it is expected to do

Q4.
Which food item with layers might help us remember the "positive, something to improve, positive" approach to giving feedback?
pizza
Correct answer: sandwich
pasta

Additional material

Download additional material