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Year 1

Using wind

I can describe how wind is useful.

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New
New
Year 1

Using wind

I can describe how wind is useful.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Windmills have sails or blades which turn.
  2. Windmills use wind to produce electricity or pump water.
  3. Windmills use wind to grind wheat into flour.

Keywords

  • Rotary motion - something that turns around in circles

  • Sails - parts of a windmill that turn in the wind

  • Blades - parts of a wind turbine that turn in the wind

  • Millstone - a heavy stone that grinds grain to make flour

Common misconception

Windmills create wind, rather than being moved by it.

The wind pushes the windmill's blades to make them turn.


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

Teacher could read the story of the Little Red Hen. Emphasise to the children that the windmill grinds the wheat.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Any examples of windmill toys / photos to share, particularly if there are local windmills, worksheet, glue, scissors, pencils

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

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4 Questions

Q1.
Rotary motion means moving in a .
Correct Answer: circle
Q2.
Which one of these is not part of a water well?
An image in a quiz
handle
pulley
bucket
Correct answer: wheel
well
Q3.
This dam contains giant water wheels that turn as water passes through, producing ...
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: electricity.
water.
light.
wind.
Q4.
What does a water well do?
grinds wheat
Correct answer: lifts water up from underground
makes wind

4 Questions

Q1.
The _________of a windmill turn when wind blows into them.
Correct answer: sails
blades
Q2.
Wind turbines produce .
Correct Answer: electricity
Q3.
Which part of the windmill grinds the wheat?
sail
Correct answer: millstone
roof
door
Q4.
Which part of the process for making flower uses rotary motion?
plant the seeds
Correct answer: grow the wheat
harvest the wheat
grind wheat into flour

Additional material

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