SPINNING WINDWHEEL!

An easy way to see the effect of the wind is to watch a pinwheel spin. The direction the wind is traveling and the angle at which it hits the pinwheel dictates how fast the pinwheel spins, much like a windmill turning in the wind. Try a few experiments with your pinwheel. Is there more wind in one place than another? Does the wind direction change often? Plant the base in the ground like a windmill or fix it on a pole higher up. You will probably see differences in the way your pinwheel behaves in different locations. Can you think of some reasons for the differences?

Follow these directions to make your windwheel.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 piece of paper (origami paper looks great)
1 thumbtack
1 pencil (with eraser) or other type of wand
Scissors

Step One: Print out the Pinwheel (PDF).

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free.

Now you can see what the pinwheel pattern looks like. You can make your own pinwheel bigger or smaller as long as you start with a square.

Step Two: Draw a diagonal line from the each corner--almost to the center but not quite!. You may use the corner opposite each corner to aim for. Imagine there's a circle in the middle of the square where the four lines almost meet. Draw each line until you get to the edge of the imaginary circle.

Step Three: If the paper is not already decorated, color it as you choose.

Step Four: Cut along the straight lines only. Do not cut within the imaginary circle. Make sure you don't cut all the way to the center of the square; if you do, you'll be making triangles!

Step Five: Hold the paper in front of you with a point at the top, like a diamond. Without creasing the paper, bend the top right triangle over so that the point just covers the dot in the center of the square. Holding that in place, turn the paper clockwise and do the same thing, bending the top corner so that it just covers the first. Repeat until you are holding all four corners at the center of the paper.

Step Six: Stick the thumbtack point through all four corners and through the back of the paper in order to hold everything in place.

Step Seven: Attach the thumbtack to the pencil eraser or top of wand. Do not push it in too tightly or the pinwheel will not turn properly.

Step Eight: Blow on the pinwheel and watch it spin!