The Feather Experiment: Learning about Wind

Today we are working with feathers! There are so many great ideas for using feathers to learn. This feather experiment is great for learning about the wind. We had a blast!

I’ll have to tell you, this was really hard to photograph because the feathers moved so fast and it was difficult to see them against the trees and grass outside.

We did the feather experiment with all four kids. And they all loved it! Each of them learned something new.

How to do the feather experiment:

Stick the bottom of the quill into the straw.

Blow.

Test out different things like: short straws, long straws, small feathers, big feathers, fluffy feathers, non-fluffy feathers.

4-year-old (special ed. preschool)

Learned that when she blew the feather would fly out of her straw. She thought that was really cool!

She tried sucking in a couple times and didn’t like the results of that as much…

1st grader

She learned “that if [she] cut the straw shorter, the feather would fly further”.

5th grader

She learned that “wind can change directions very quickly.”

6th grader

She learned that “short straws with long, fluffy feathers will fly further than long straws and non-fluffy feathers.”

I am absolutely ecstatic when I find an activity that will help each of them learn!

Learn more about wind & weather with this awesome Hands-On Weather Unit!