Wind Vane Challenge

Scenario

Polynesians navigated the Pacific using a multitude of techniques: knowledge taught through songs, location of certain stars in the sky and on the horizon, swell direction, wind direction, time of travel, wildlife species, and colours of the sea and sky especially near islands.

This challenge gets you to investigate the way Polynesians navigated through the Pacific using one of these signs; the wind direction.

Tasks

• Using only the materials listed (or if you don't have some get creative), make a Wind Vane.
• Write N/E/S/W on your wind vane.
• If you have a compass when you test your Wind Vane outside you can use it to orientate the wind vane correctly. e.g. south points south, north points north!
• When it’s completed you will test it outside (or if no wind that day use a fan indoors, from a set direction) to find South.

Materials

• a long thumb tack

• scissors

• modelling clay (or blu-tac)

• a plastic pot or container, e.g., from take-out food

• ruler

• glue stick

• thin, coloured card

• drinking straw

• 2 pencils with eraser

Judging Criteria

Points are awarded for:

• Wind Vane arrow points in the correct direction to where the wind is coming from

• Accurately locates SOUTH

• Wind vane is sturdy and withstands the wind

• Wind vane turns smoothly