Explore Renewable Energy with New Learning Scenarios for Primary Classrooms

The scenarios are adapted from the WindEurope Teacher Toolkit for Primary Schools, through an adaptation carried out by European Schoolnet (EUN) in partnership with WindEurope, within the framework of the Scientix® STEM Alliance initiative. They combine hands-on activities with pedagogical guidance, curriculum mapping, assessment strategies, sustainability competences, and real-world applications of renewable energy.

The original WindEurope Teacher Toolkit was developed in partnership with Singelijn Primary School in Brussels to help primary school teachers introduce students to the fundamentals of renewable energy. The four original modules have been reviewed and adapted using the Scientix methodology, enriching the activities with curriculum and pedagogical guidance and making them easier to integrate into different European education contexts.

The learning scenarios are designed for upper-primary students, generally aged 11–12, and connect renewable energy with subjects including science and technology, mathematics, geography, history, language, and social studies/citizenship. Across the four scenarios, students investigate energy and sustainability, design and build anemometers, explore wind turbine technology through engineering and scientific investigation, and investigate wind as a natural phenomenon, geographical resource, and driver of technological innovation.

The adaptation also introduces three key enhancements. First, each scenario is mapped to relevant competences from GreenComp, the European Sustainability Competence Framework developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Second, real-world industry applications are embedded throughout the scenarios, including examples of renewable energy technologies, professional roles and careers, and connections to the wider energy transition. Third, activities are mapped to the Scientix STEM School Label criteria, helping schools identify how the scenarios can contribute to their wider STEM strategy.

The four scenarios can be used in sequence or as stand-alone resources and are available for teachers to use and adapt:

1. Learning About Energy: Students explore what renewable energy is and how it transforms, investigate renewable and non-renewable energy sources, examine the links between fossil fuels, CO₂ and climate change using European data, and take on different professional roles in a collaborative wind farm project. Access it here.

2. Constructing an Anemometer and Taking Measurements: Students design, build and test a cup anemometer, collect and compare wind measurements, investigate how arm length affects rotation speed, and use mathematics to explore the relationship between circumference and diameter. Access it here.

3. Understanding Wind Turbine Technology: Students investigate how wind turbines generate electricity, design and build a model turbine, test and refine their prototype through scientific investigation, analyse performance data, and connect their learning to real wind turbines and careers in the renewable energy sector. Access it here.

​​​​​​​

4. Learning About Wind: Students investigate how wind forms, explore why some places are windier than others, analyse global wind patterns, use real renewable energy data and digital mapping tools to make evidence-based recommendations about future renewable energy development, and explore how humans have harnessed wind from ancient sailing to modern wind turbines. Access it here.

Learn more about the four Learning Scenarios in this two-pager!