The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Yes, in the sense of the processes of creating results from curiosities or the necessity to find a solution. William sees a problem effecting his family and others, and proceeds to use his curiosity to lead him to resources like the library. There, he encounters obstacles like the books and diagrams being in a language he didn't speak. He translated the words and used what the books showed in order to apply it by making his own windmill.

Author: William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Year Published: 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-59188-1

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

2nd Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

8th Grade

Summary

Depicting a true story, a young boy named William lives in a village in Malawi, but his family and community are plagued by famine due to drought. His curiosity and love for how things work lead him to engineer a way to provide electricity and irrigation for his village, using scraps of material from the trash and translating descriptions of diagrams he read about to build a machine. William's efforts save them from starvation.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: High
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Somewhat. The book doesn't specifically present questions for children to answer, but it does provide a platform for questions, and encourages pursuing the answers to questions and solutions to problems.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes. William is just 14 years old when he constructs his first windmill. The story depicts William independently gathering the information he needs in order to complete the project he has given himself. He is shown continually questioning how things around him work, and finding his own means to feed his curiosities.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

Yes. The last page in the book details what scrap parts William used to build his machine. Within the story, the author describes how a windmill will help the community-- how it takes the water from deep in the ground and uses it to water the fields of crops, and how those crops are the main source of food for the people in the village. Though the description is broad, it is a perfect opportunity to explore the deeper workings of wind energy.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

Yes. It describes a process used on a larger scale in many developed countries to use the wind to generate energy. The end of the book explains that the story itself is true, and how the William depicted in the book is William Kamkwamba, a man who exists in Africa and saved his village and continued on to save many others by establishing renewable energy sources.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Yes. The book is written about a situation that happened in reality, only in the last 20 years. The story is first presented in almost a folktale-like format, and reveals explicitly at the end that the story is true. Additional context is given when the connection to reality is made.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Somewhat. This book is illustrated using a collage style of art, which certainly represents the ideas aesthetically, but doesn't always depict the deeper inner workings of the scientific concepts mentioned. However, the characters and setting are beautifully depicted and gives information about the setting of the story. This seemed especially important when using this book in the classroom because this setting may be fairly foreign to some students.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes. I am currently in a 3rd grade classroom, and this book could easily be read aloud to my class. The explanation at the end of the book provides more information about the surrounding facts of the situation and uses language and ideas to describe heavy topics such as famine in a manner accessible to children of various ages.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

Yes. The setting of the book is in Malawi in Africa. The plot is deeply embedded in the setting-- the way William and his family live presents both the problem and solution for the story. Because the book is partially written by the subject and is biographical, there is an assumption that the perspectives given are free from stereotypes and inaccuracies.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Yes. The book's subject is a male, but there is no mention of gender other than that. The story's focus is biographical and doesn't include dialogue on gender.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

Yes. By focusing on the context in which science is used, the book provides a window into the conditions and culture in Africa. It includes words and phrases from the language spoken in Malawi, and describes realities faced by its residents, such as lack of food and resources, small agricultural villages, constraints on receiving an education, and expectations within families. As a result, it can be closely linked with Social Studies, as well as connections to Language Arts.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes. Science and technology are portrayed as the result of curiosity, resilience, and determination to provide a better life for himself and his community. It connects the nature of science to its application. In this specific case, science and technology are used to alleviate a dyer situation-- without a solution to the lack of water for the crops, many people would have continued to starve, and thousands of people were dying of famine in Africa as a result of this same drought.