CREATE A PINWHEEL
Have you ever seen a windmill? Perhaps at Historic Wagner Farm! Windmills are a
type of wind turbine that converts wind energy into mechanical energy. Here are instructions
to make your own wind-powered device – a pinwheel. For more information
on the science behind wind turbines, click here.
Pinwheel Instructions
June is a great time to make pinwheels. Pinwheels
are easy to make. As long as you begin with a
square, the size of your pinwheel is up to you.
1. Begin with a square of
paper.
2. Fold your square, corner
to corner, then unfold.
3. Make a pencil mark about
1/3 of the way from center.
4. Cut along fold lines.
Stop at your pencil mark.
5. Bring every other point into the center and stick a pin
through all four points.
6. Turn your pinswheel over - make sure the pin pokes
through in the exact center.
7. Roll the pin around in little circles to enlarge the hole
a little. This guarantees your pinwheel will spin freely
8. Stick the
pin into a thin
dowel or a
pencil eraser.
Hint:
Separate
your pinwheel
from
the dowel/
pencil eraser
with two or three beads. Stick the
pin through the beads first then - into
the dowel/pencil eraser.
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