St. Patrick’s Day Engineering Challenge – Student
Summary
Student Engineering Log: St. Patrick’s Day Wind Energy Challenge
The Student Engineering Log guides learners through the St. Patrick’s Day Wind Energy Challenge using a structured, step-by-step design process. Students define the problem, brainstorm solutions, sketch prototypes, test designs, collect quantitative data, and redesign based on evidence.
Through this renewable energy engineering activity, students explore:
- Blade pitch and wind force
- Torque and lifting power
- Friction and efficiency
- Rotational motion
- Controlled experimental testing
Students record blade angle, blade number, lift time, and observations across multiple trials. Reflection questions prompt analysis of speed versus lifting power, friction effects, and design limitations.
The student guide emphasizes evidence-based reasoning and iterative improvement, helping learners think like engineers rather than simply building a model.
This guide supports the full St. Patrick’s Day Engineering Challenge lesson and can also be used as a standalone wind turbine activity for classrooms studying renewable energy or mechanical systems.
Students may next explore Energy Transformations or Science of Energy Efficiency to deepen their understanding of how energy is converted and measured in real systems.