ABSTRACT
Children research, design and make a land yacht, which is a wind-powered land vehicle. Children then investigate how different sail designs affect the movement of a land yacht, collecting data to inform improvements made to create a 'super land yacht'. Wind is air that is moving from one place to another. Challenge children to use a variety of persuasive literary devices. The land yacht will only move if the force exerted by the wind is greater than forces resisting movement such as air resistance, friction of the wheels on the ground, and friction of moving parts within the land yacht. The process of testing and evaluation in science and design and technology is similar; children engage in the design process applying understanding of forces and materials, alongside design and technology skills, and research different kinds of land yachts. The project could culminate in a land yacht Grand Prix event where groups of children race their land yachts.
