The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Book Study

Recommended for: Primary Years (K-3rd), Intermediate Years (4th-8th)

Now available as a standalone study, you can download and use in your homeschool or as book study with a group. Create lasting connections through this rich story while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts. Each download includes:

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, and more
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Book Report Template
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Extension Book List
• Multimedia Reference Materials links
• Book Club Meet-up Guide

Overview of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba is a memoir that recounts the author’s journey to build a windmill in his village in Malawi. At its core, it’s a story of resilience, hope, and determination. When a devastating drought struck William’s small village, his family loses their crops, leaving them with no food or income. Searching for solutions, William turned to science books in his village library and devised a plan to build a windmill. Using scrap metal and parts from an old bicycle, he constructed a windmill that generated electricity for his home and enabled his family to pump water for their farm, and ultimately benefitted the whole community. This memoir demonstrates how one bright idea can transform lives, even in the face of hardship.

Themes covered in The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

There are many themes in The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind you will explore through videos, notebooking, and projects. Explore any themes more in-depth that really stick out to you or spark the interests of your children.

• Origin stories. How does where we come from affect who we are?
• How does electricity work?
• African geography
• History and geography of Malawi
• Malawian culture
• Animals of Africa - Antelope, Zebras, Wildebeest, Lions, Hippos, Leopards, Black Mamba Snakes
• Entrepreneurship
• Supply and demand
• Drought
• Farming cycles
• Wind energy