Tuesday, June 15, 2021 marks Global Wind Day and staff and students in Rainbow Schools have been challenged to celebrate the power of wind energy.
Global Wind Day is an annual event established to encourage students to learn about wind energy in its many forms. Using the wind to generate power is a viable alternative to fossil fuels, whether wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships. Wind power is abundant, renewable, clean, emits no greenhouse gases, and requires little land.
"Wind energy is becoming a popular means of electricity generation which is having a positive impact on the planet," said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. "It's important that students understand the potential of wind energy to change the world."
For Global Wind Day, students may enjoy the Abenaki legend "Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle" from the book "Keepers of the Earth" or other stories to generate a discussion about the significance of the wind.
Within the Indigenous "Anishinaabe" perspective, students learn that before we can celebrate the power of the wind, we must first acknowledge the gift of the air. Within the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the four elements of life include the fire "shkode", the land "aki", the water "nbiish" and the air/wind "nesewin/noodin".
Students may have the opportunity to create wind themselves by blowing up a balloon and releasing the air or nesewin to create wind or noodin. Students may also learn how to make an anemometer or pinwheel to demonstrate wind speed and to represent how wind impacts everyone on the planet.
Global Wind Day can be celebrated at home by hanging clothes outside to dry, building wind chimes using old cutlery or keys, flying a kite, or creating a windsock for your yard.
