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Lesson Plan Image

Thank You, Wind

Children will have fun as they learn about the wind and create collages using basic geometric and organic shapes.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Air is all around us, and though we might not be able to see it we can feel it as it moves around us. Explain that wind actually comes from the sun. As the sun heats the ground, it warms the air above it. The warmed air rises and cooler air moves in to take its place. This movement is the wind we feel. Ask children to think about how their senses are affected on breezy or windy days. What do they feel? Is there a certain smell in the air? What sights might they see? Are branches swaying? Leaves blowing? Flags flapping?

  • Step 2

    Read a book such as "Windblown" by Édouard Manceau or "Like a Windy Day" by Frank Asch and Devin Asch. Have children point out the interesting formations and movements of the wind. Ask them to note some of the shapes as well, perhaps oval leaves, triangular sails on sailboats, etc.

  • Step 3

    Have children create a collage using some of the shapes they might have seen on a windy day. To show their appreciation to nature and wind, have them complete "Thank you, wind..." statements like the example on this lesson's image. After students think about what they will thank the wind for they will cut or tear paper into shapes and create a collage image pertaining to that statement.

  • Step 4

    Ask children to present their collages and "thank you" statements, discussing what they appreciate about nature or wind.

Standards

MATH: Describe, compare, quantify, and classify objects by attributes. Sort objects into categories.

SCI: Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.

Adaptations

Have students create shape collages inspired by some of the many artists that are known for using geometric shapes in their art. Some examples are "Squares with Concentric Circles" (1913) by Wassily Kandinsky, "Homage to the Square" (1970) by Josef Albers, or "Composition A" (1923) by Piet Mondrian.

The wind is an important source of renewable energy. Show students some images of various kinds of windmills and explain that the wind can be used to create electricity. Have children engage in creative whole body movements as they pretend to be windmills that move as the wind blows and stops when the wind is calm.