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Year 1

Testing wind sails

I can test wind sail designs to decide which is most effective.

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New
New
Year 1

Testing wind sails

I can test wind sail designs to decide which is most effective.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Wind sails are designed to catch wind.
  2. Wind sail models show how wind sails work.
  3. By making simple models, designs can be quickly tested.

Keywords

  • Sail - these catch the wind and either turn or billow out to make something move

  • Model - making an example of something to test or to learn new skills

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

  • Rotary motion - something that turns around in circles

Common misconception

Models need to work first time.

Through testing and repeat testing, models can be tried and adapted to work.


To help you plan your year 1 design and technology lesson on: Testing wind sails, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use split pins for the axle, cardboard template initially, recyclable materials where possible. If possible, go outside to test or use paper to create a breeze.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Template, scissors, pencils, crayons and felt pens, sticky tack, straw & paper (for using as a breeze)

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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

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4 Questions

Q1.
Rotary motion is where something moves in a...
square.
Correct answer: circle.
triangle.
Q2.
What do windmills use to grind the grain?
Correct answer: millstone
millblock
millcutter
Q3.
True or false? All windmills produce electricity?
true
Correct answer: false
Q4.
In a windmill the uses rotary motion to grind the grains.
Correct Answer: millstone, mill stone

4 Questions

Q1.
What does a sail catch?
soil
Correct answer: wind
water
Q2.
Where might you see a sail?
scooter
Correct answer: yacht
bike
Correct answer: windmill
Q3.
True or false? All sails turn in a rotary motion.
true
Correct answer: false
Q4.
What do we use to safely make holes in card?
scissors
Correct answer: sticky tack
Correct answer: pencil
knife

Additional material

Download additional material