The Boy Who

Harnessed the Wind

A RIF GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY COORDINATORS
Themes: Innovation, Energy, Africa, Imagination, windmill for his village.
Perseverance Author: William
Book Brief: A boy in a drought-ravaged village in KamKwamba and
Africa wonders how things work. Bryan Mealer
Teaching himself English from old Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
science books, he builds a

TIME TO READ!
Before reading: Ask if anyone knows what harnessed means. This story is about a
14-year-old boy who harnessed or caught the wind to help his family and his
village survive.

RELATED ACTIVITIES
TECHNOLOGY LINK
Hear William KamKwamba tell how he harnessed the
wind. http://movingwindmills.org/documentary
WHIMSICAL WINDMILLS (AGES 7-12)
Materials: scissors, paper, pencil with eraser, push pin,
crayons
Cut a square from paper. Mark pin hole dots as shown
on diagram. Decorate both sides. Cut from each
corner stopping just before the center hole. Use
push pin to punch hole in rst corner, bending paper
towards center hole. Continue with other three
corners slipping each onto the end of the push pin.
Push pin through center hole and onto pencil eraser.
Blow to test if the pinwheel moves. Adjust as needed.
BUILDING BLOCKS (AGES 5-7)
Bring together blocks and other miscellaneous items
from the Mystery Box. Encourage children to think
like William and see what they can build.
INNOVATIVE INVENTIONS (AGES 8-12)
Childrens Challenge: Using William as an example,
think of something to invent to solve a problem or
address a need for you and your family. Create a
poster showcasing your
invention and its benets.
CATCH THE WIND
(AGES 5-12)
Materials: paper plates,
craft sticks, tape, petroleum
jelly, magnifying glasses
Make a wind catcher. Attach craft
stick to back of plate. Dab petroleum jelly in a small
circle in the middle of the plate. Take wind catcher
outside on a windy day. Which way is the wind
blowing? Place wind catcher into the ground so the
front of plate is facing the wind. Leave for 30 minutes.
Collect wind catcher and use magnifying glasses to
see what the wind blew in the center of the plate.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
OTHER BOOKS ABOUT WIND AND ENERGY
Catch the Wind, Anne Johnson (2008)
Energy Island, Allan Drummond (2011)
Wind Power, Tea Benduhn (2008)
The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind
A RIF GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS
Themes: Innovation, Energy, Africa, Imagination, Author:
Perseverance William KamKwamba
Book Brief: A boy in a drought-ravaged village in and Bryan Mealer
Africa wonders how things work. Illustrator:
Teaching himself English from old Elizabeth Zunon
science books, he builds a windmill Content Connections:
for his village. Science, Social Studies, Engineering

TIME TO READ!

BEFORE WE READ, Prior Knowledge: Have students ever seen a

LETS LOOK AT
The Cover: Based on the
cover illustration explain
what you think the title
means.
The Pictures: Have students look at the first page
on which it shows the village. What can you tell me
about the living situation in a village in Malwai?
What resources might be available?
windmill? If so, where was it and what purpose did
it serve? Explain that when the wind moves the
blades of the windmill, it produces energy, which can
be used to do different types of work. William lives
in Malwai. Who knows where that is? On what
continent? Lets find it on the map.
Vocabulary: harnessed, maize, pangas
Purpose for Reading: As we read, be prepared to
summarize the challenges that William faced on his
journey to harness the wind.

WHILE WE READ
MONITORING COMPREHENSION u Could he have
accomplished his goal
u Where did Williams curiosity come from?
without help?
u What can you infer about William?
u With no electricity,
u How would you feel if others thought you were where do you think the
misala, crazy? light bulb came from?

LETS THINK ABOUT

Our Purpose: What challenges did William face throughout this story?
Extending our Thinking: Ask these open-ended questions: What would your life be like with no electricity?
What part did Williams parents play in his quest to build the windmill? Why was William the first to bring this
type of resource to his village?

NOTE TO EDUCATORS
u Extension Activities for Educators also available.
u Vocabulary Scaffolding Sheet also available.
 The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind
A RIF GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
Themes: Innovation, Energy, Africa, Imagination, windmill for his village.
Perseverance Author: William
Book Brief: A boy in a drought-ravaged village in KamKwamba and
Africa wonders how things work. Bryan Mealer
Teaching himself English from old Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
science books, he builds a

TIME TO READ!
Before reading, build While reading, make connections: Why are water and
background knowledge: electricity important for most communities? How does
What does it mean to the life William leads in Malwai compare with yours?
harness something?
After reading, ask questions: What surprised you
What is a windmill? Have
most in this story? Why do you think the others
you ever seen one before
called him crazy instead of helping him with his
in person?
vision? What motivates someone like William?

RELATED ACTIVITIES
CONSTRUCTION ZONE Arrange strawberry slices in
the shape of the blades on
Materials: recycled boxes, containers, bottle caps,
a windmill. Place a blueberry
straws etc.
in the center. Eat and enjoy!
William and his friends constructed toy trucks out of
recycled materials. Get a friend and see what type of WIND WALK
toys you can construct. Can you make a toy truck?
What other ideas do you have? What challenges did Materials: scissors, paper,
you face in the construction process? pencil with eraser, push pin
Using the handout (page 2)
STRAWBERRY WINDMILLS create your own pinwheel. Take your pinwheel out for
a wind walk. How windy is it? In a 10-second period,
Ingredients: graham crackers,
count how many times your pinwheel goes around.
chocolate spread, strawberries,
blueberries
TECHNOLOGY LINK
Thinly slice strawberries length-
wise. Place enough chocolate spread Find out firsthand about William and his inspiration
on graham cracker to hold strawberries in place. to help his village. Visit www.movingwindmills.org/
documentary

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
OTHER BOOKS ABOUT WIND AND ENERGY
Catch the Wind, Anne Johnson (2008)
Energy Island, Allan Drummond (2011)
Wind Power, Tea Benduhn (2008)
 MAKING A PINWHEEL HANDOUT

1.) Cut a square from paper (along outer dotted lines). 5.) Continue with other three corners slipping each
2.) Decorate both sides of paper. onto the end of the push pin.

3.) Cut from each corner (along dotted lines) 6.) Push pin through center hole and onto pencil
toward center stopping at the X. eraser or other kind of handle.
4.) Use push pin to punch hole in first corner, bending 7.) Blow to test if the pinwheel moves. Adjust as
paper toward the center hole. needed.
The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind
A RIF VOCABULARY SCAFFOLD

to scan: to look
briefly in order to
find something

gush: to flow out

hoe: a garden tool very quickly and in
with a flat blade large amounts
and long handle

bearings: a machine
to scorch: to damage part in which another
something by making part turns or slides
it extremely dry

to sulk: to show to tinker: to try to

you are upset about repair or improve
something by being something
quiet, not smiling

mango: a juicy gale: a very

tropical fruit with strong wind
yellow and red skin

pinwheel: a toy with

a set of thin blades
arranged like a fan on
the end of a stick that
spin like a wheel when
air is blown on them
The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind
RIF EXTENSION ACTIVITIES FOR EDUCATORS
THINK-TAC-TOE ACTIVITY OPTIONS
u Individual students can choose an activity to complete.
u Student pairs or cooperative groups can work together on a choice of their own.
u Educator can assign an activity for an individual, pairs or groups.
INNOVATIVE INVENTIONS
From toilet paper to light bulbs;
bubble gum to blue jeans, every-
where you look you see an invention.
Choose the one invention you think
you think is the most innovative.
Prepare a presentation of your
choice to show why you think this
invention is tops!
Science, Writing, Social Studies
IN HIS SHOES
Make a Venn diagram to compare
your experiences at home and
school to Williams. What are the
similarities and/or differences? Do
you think William would have had
the same motivation if he lived in
your area now?
Language Arts, Social Studies
MINI WINDMILL
Draw a circle about three inches in
diameter and cut out. Find the center
of the circle. Divide circle into 8 even
wedge shapes. Cut along lines to
about 1/4 inch from the center. Place
a push pin through center onto pencil
eraser. Gently bend down one corner
on each wedge. Be sure to use the
same angle each time. Will it spin in
the wind?
Science, Engineering , Math, Art
STEAM-THEMED: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math
IN THE NEWS!
As a reporter for the local newspaper,
write a newspaper article about
William and his recent accomplish-
ment, constructing a windmill.
Make sure to answer the journalism
questions: who, what, when, where,
why, how and so what? Have an
eye-catching headline so people will
read your article!
Writing, Science
http://movingwindmills.org/docu-
COMING TO A THEATER
NEAR YOU
William and the Windmill is the
documentary film about William
Kamkwamaba. Create a movie
poster to feature this documentary
so that others would want to see this
amazing story. When finished, log on
to www.williamandthewindmill.com
to see the original. What was the
focus of it? What is the focus of
yours?
Art, Language Arts, Technology
EXPENSIVE EDUCATION
William was desperate to stay in
school but couldnt because of
money. The school fees in Malwai
were $80. Create a display that shows
how much money it costs per day to
attend school. What do you think the
money covers per day? Compare this
to your experience. Is $80 too much
or too little based on your findings?
Math, Social Studies
DEAR DIARY
Find out what William was thinking
by watching his documentary at
mentary. Choose a period of
Williams life: before, during or after
the windmill project. Write a diary
entry from Williams perspective,
reflecting the thoughts he may have
had on that day.
Technology, Writing
WISEST WIND TOOL
An anemometer measures how fast
the wind is blowing. Google how
to make an anemometer. Copy the
directions; compare the process and
the materials needed from at least 2
different sites. Which anemometer
do you think would be the most
efficient? Include a diagram of your
choice to help explain your reasoning.
Science, Technology, Math