Wind Motion Test: A Simple STEM Activity

Wind is all around us, but we can't see the air itself. So how can we see what the wind is doing?

For this simple outdoor STEM activity, use natural objects to observe how moving air creates different kinds of motion. No special supplies are needed, just a breezy day, a little curiosity, and a few things you can find outside.

What You'll Need

Find a few lightweight natural objects, such as:

• A green leaf

• A dry leaf

• Pine needles

• A blade of grass

• A feather

• A small piece of bark

• A seed or other lightweight natural object

Try to choose objects that are different in size, shape, and weight.

Try It

1. Find a breezy spot

Head outside and find an area where you can feel the wind. Before you begin, stop and notice it. Can you feel the wind? Can you see anything moving?

2. Choose a natural object

Place a leaf, pine needle, or another lightweight object on the ground. Watch carefully. What does the wind do?

Does it:

• Flutter?

• Roll?

• Slide?

• Spin?

• Tumble?

• Lift into the air?

3. Try different objects

Test several natural objects. Try a green leaf and a dry leaf. Compare a pine needle with a larger leaf. Try a feather if you can find one. Do they all move in the same way?

4. Change the conditions

Try your objects in different places. What happens in an open area compared with a sheltered spot? What happens when the wind is gentle? What happens when a stronger gust comes along?

You can even hold an object at different angles and see whether the way you hold it changes its movement.

What Makes It Move?

Wind is moving air. When that moving air pushes against an object, it can cause the object to move. But different objects respond to the wind differently. A feather may flutter easily because it is very light. A broad leaf may catch more air than a narrow pine needle. The size, shape, weight, and position of an object can all affect how it moves.

This gives children a simple way to explore force and motion using things they can find right outside.

Questions to Explore

As you watch, ask:

• Which object moved the most?

• Which barely moved?

• Did anything spin?

• Did anything roll or tumble?

• Did lighter objects always move more?

• Did the shape of an object make a difference?

• What happened when the wind changed?

• What happens when the wind stops?

There's no need to have the answers ahead of time.

Make a prediction. Watch what happens. Then wonder why.

Make It a Little More Challenging

Choose two objects and place them next to each other. For example, try a large leaf and a pine needle.

Which one moves first?

Which one travels farther?

Now try changing just one thing. Put the leaf flat on the ground, then fold it or turn it on its side. Does its movement change?

You can record your observations with simple words or drawings. You could even make a quick chart showing which objects barely moved, moved a little, or moved a lot.

Take It Outside

This activity is really about observation. You don't need to build anything. You don't need special equipment. Just step outside and pay attention to something that is already happening around you. The wind becomes the experiment.

Observe → Wonder → Explore → Discover

And if your child comes up with their own question along the way, follow it. That's often where the best learning begins.