How To Assemble A Pinwheel? The 80 Top Answers

Wind turbines use energy from the wind to generate electricity. Every turbine has a generator inside. As the blades turn, they turn the generator, which produces electricity. This is a form of non-renewable energy, it is not consumed and does not produce harmful polluting gases.

You need

A square of paper – about 15cm x 15cm

Pen

scissors

Pencil with eraser on top

plasticine

How to make a pinwheel

Fold the paper square along each diagonal and unfold.

Cut each diagonal from the corner about ⅔ of the way toward the center.

Gently bring the edges together and insert the needle through the center. (ask an adult for help)

Push the needle through the eraser on top of the pen and check that the pinwheel spins.

windmill

Pinwheel investigation ideas

First check if the pinwheel spins when you blow on it.

Blow from the front, back and every side. does it rotate Which way does it turn?

Blow over and under the blades, how does the pinwheel spin now?

For the next piece you need a windy day! If there is no wind, you can use a hair dryer, but use a cool environment and ask an adult for help.

Now take the pinwheel outside and hold it into the wind, sideways to the wind and away from the wind.

Note where the pinwheel spins the fastest.

How do you tell which way the wind is blowing with your finger?

Lick your index finger and hold it up in the air. The side of your finger that feels coolest tells you which way the wind is blowing! You need a compass to figure out which direction this is going.

Another way to find out which way the wind is blowing is to build a wind vane.

Learn more about wind and wind turbines in my post full of wind experiments for kids!

Last updated on September 13, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

key concepts

energy

perfomance

powers

machinery

introduction

Have you ever ridden your bike into a strong wind? If so, did it feel really hard? How does that compare to how you feel when the wind pushes against your back? Does that make you feel ready for the Tour de France? In this science activity, you will study how wind-powered devices such as wind turbines and pinwheels respond to wind direction in different ways.

background

Wind turbines are machines that convert wind energy into mechanical or electrical energy. Windmills are examples of wind turbines that convert wind energy into mechanical energy. The Netherlands is a country known for its windmills, which have been used for centuries to grind corn, drain land, and cut wood. Wind farms, on the other hand, are examples of wind turbines that convert wind energy into electrical energy. In California you can see rows of wind turbines along windswept ridges and mountain passes. The wind turbines at these wind farms connect directly to the grid and produce 5 percent of the electricity consumed by the entire state.

A wind turbine has a rotor with blades connected to a shaft. When wind energy hits the blades, the rotor turns, causing the shaft to turn as well. As the shaft spins, it can do work and generate either mechanical or electrical energy. The more wind hits the blades, the more the rotor can turn and the more energy the wind turbine can produce.

materials

Pinwheel (If you don’t have a pinwheel, you can make a homemade one using a piece of paper, a pencil or pen, a round wooden skewer and scissors – see steps below.)

hair dryer (optional)

If you don’t have a pinwheel, make one now by following the steps below.

Cut a sheet of paper so it’s a square (8.5 x 8.5 inches is ideal).

Fold the paper square along the diagonal, then unfold it back into a square. Fold it along the other diagonal, then unfold it again. Your paper should now look like a square with a capital “X” created by the creases.

Using a pen or pencil, make a small mark along each fold about two inches from the center.

Carefully poke four holes with a skewer to the right of each fold near the corners of the square (see the pattern shown here in Figure 3 for more details) and one hole in the center of the paper.

From each corner of the square, cut down along the crease until you reach the mark you made.

Finally, take each of the holes at the corners and fold them one at a time onto the skewer so that they are all on top of each other. You should now have a working homemade pinwheel!

If you prefer, you can blow the blades with a hair dryer instead of blowing them yourself. When you do this, keep the hair dryer on a low setting and make sure it’s about the same distance from the blades with each inflation.

Face the front of your pinwheel and blow directly on it. Imagine the pinwheel is a wind turbine, and when it spins in that direction, it converts the wind’s energy into electrical energy. Which direction do the blades spin, clockwise or counterclockwise? How fast are they spinning?

Rotate the pinwheel so that its front is now facing to the right. You should now be facing the side of the blades that were previously on your left. Blow on the top half of the blades, above the shaft that goes through the blades. Try to blow similarly (with similar force and distance) as before. Which direction do the blades spin, clockwise or counterclockwise? How fast are they spinning? What about blowing on the front of the pinwheel?

Still facing that side of the blades, blow on the bottom half of the blades below the shank. Try blowing similar to before. In which direction and how fast are the blades turning now? How does that compare to blowing on the pinwheel from the other directions?

Now turn the pinwheel so that its front is facing to the left and you are facing the opposite side of the blades. Blow on the top half of the blades similar to how you blew on them earlier. Then blow on the lower half of the blades. In which direction and how fast do the blades rotate each time?

Overall, how does the direction of the wind hitting the pinwheel affect how the blades turn? If the pinwheel was a wind turbine and generated electrical energy at its front, from which direction(s) should it receive wind in order to generate electrical energy efficiently?

Extra: Try repeating this activity with a few different pinwheels. Do you get the same results with everyone?

Try repeating this activity with a few different pinwheels. Do you get the same results with everyone? Extra: If you want a more challenging activity, you can try to quantify how much force the pinwheel produces when blown from one direction versus another. To do this, you need to attach the pinwheel blades to a fixed shaft (e.g. a wooden skewer) so that they rotate the shaft when blown on. Support the shaft by passing it through a cardboard oatmeal container or similar object. At the other end of the shaft, tie a piece of thread with small weights (e.g. paper clips) to it. When the windmill blows and the shaft spins, it should pull the weights up. See the Science Buddies project idea in the More Information section for more details on how to create this setup. How much mechanical power do you think your wind turbine can generate?

Observations and Results

When you blew directly on the face of the pinwheel, did it spin counter-clockwise? Did it spin best when you blew into its “cups”?

On most windmills, the blades are arranged to rotate counter-clockwise when the wind blows directly on them. This is because the “cups” of the blades are made to catch the oncoming air and push the blades in that direction. (You can try looking at several different pinwheels to see how this pattern is shared by them.) When wind is blown into the cups, the pinwheel spins well. So if you’re using a typical pinwheel, turn it so the front is on your right and blow into the side of the blades. The blades rotate counterclockwise rapidly when you blow on the bottom half (into the cups), but slowly rotate clockwise when you blow on the top half (against the back of the cups). With the front of the pinwheel facing left and you blow into the side of the blades, they spin counterclockwise at a similar rate if you blow on the top half (into the cups), but slowly spin clockwise if you blow on the Blow the bottom half (against the backs of the cups). If your pinwheel were a wind turbine and the counter-clockwise rotation converted wind energy into electrical energy, it would generate electricity most efficiently when the wind was blowing directly into the cups.

More to discover

How do wind turbines work? from the Office for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies

Miracle of the Wind (pdf), by the contributors to the NEED project

Fun science activities for you and your family of science buddies

Unleash the power of a Science Buddies pinwheel

This activity is brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies

Paper pinwheels are versatile crafts that are easy enough for kids to make with little supervision and beautiful enough to add a whimsical touch to any event with DIY decor. This original fidget spinner can be made with any type of paper you have at your disposal.

Paper pinwheels are a great way for budding scientists to test and explore the power of breath and air! The stronger your breath, the faster they spin. As a parent/educator, let these wind turbines provide STEM support while talking to kids about wind turbines, windmills and renewable energy

However, if you don’t have kids, these pinwheels make an excellent DIY project for decorating baby showers, adding a fun touch to a brunch buffet, and might even make a lovely addition to a wedding.

This easy garden pinwheel craft for kids is a perfect way to personalize your garden area and use up some of those old artworks you have lying around. We love easy ways to brighten up our garden, like these fairy garden flower pots or these adorable spiral paper snails, and this project is just as fabulous. It can add so much to your garden. Plus, it’s the perfect way to repurpose all those extra drawings and paintings your kids made into a super cute recycled piece of art to display in your backyard!

Garden pinwheel crafts for kids

Adding a personal touch to your garden is a fun way to encourage your kids to help out in the garden. There are a few things you need when gardening with kids, but kids also really enjoy personalizing their garden space. It’s a fun way to keep them occupied in the garden while they wait for all those plants to grow.

Accessories for pinwheel crafts

Old artwork or colored paper

scissors

Brass fasteners

Small wooden dowel

Hole punch (optional)

instructions

Begin this easy pinwheel craft by collecting several of your child’s artworks. Cut each piece into a 4″x 4″ or 5″x 5″ square. Next, fold the square in half at the corners to form a triangle. Unfold and repeat this step from the other corner. This should form an “X” shape on your paper when unfolded.

Using scissors, make four diagonal cuts along the folded lines of the “X” toward the center of the paper. Stop at least half an inch from the center.

Next, fold the corner to the left of each cut over the middle. Hold the folded tips while you push a brass clasp through the center, or use a hole punch to poke a hole and then push the brass clasp through. Make sure you pierce all four folded corners, you need all four to shape your pinwheel. Rotate the artwork back and forth around the brass clasp a few times until the paper slides back and forth easily. This will ensure that your pinwheel can turn in the wind.

If the artwork to be recycled is single-sided only, turn it face down before beginning this step. This allows the colored parts of the artwork to be seen.

Wrap the ends of the brass clasp around the wooden dowel. Make sure they are tight to avoid your pinwheel sliding onto the bottom of the dowel.

This is the last step! Try it, blow on the pinwheel and watch it spin! Now your wind turbine is ready to find its new home in your garden.

Lesson 4: Force and Motion – Explorations with Pinwheels

Grade level: 3rd grade

Time: 60 minutes (Additional time will be needed if students build pinwheels.)

Fundamental Question: How can we be stewards of Wyoming’s mineral and energy resources to benefit present and future generations?

Objectives: Students will study balanced and unbalanced forces and their effects on the movement of an object by looking at the effects of different “wind” forces on a pinwheel.

Purpose: Students will learn how wind speed and direction affects a turbine in Wyoming.

Materials/resources required:

Animation of how a wind turbine works (Source 1) https://energy.gov/eere/wind/animation-how-wind-turbine-works Store-bought wind turbines (recommended) – (at least one per pair of students) OR Materials for wind turbines Wind turbine template on cardboard (one per student) (Source 2) Scissors Pins or thumbtacks Unsharpened pencil Fan (at least one; more than one if possible – see step 4) Hair dryer (at least one; more than one if possible – see step 4) Make sure Make sure the dryer is set to “cold” or “medium,” especially if you’re using store-bought pinwheels. Straws Force and Motion with Pinwheels Sheet Predictions and Observations (one per student) Gap Exercise Force and Motion (one per student)

Norms:

Science: 3-PS2-1-(DCI), 3-5-ETS1-3(Explicit)

Suggested teacher preparation:

Follow the link and practice how a wind turbine works with the animations. If you didn’t buy any pinwheels, practice making the pinwheel to help the students. Test the pinwheel experiments to familiarize yourself with the results.

Vocabulary:

Control – standard by which experimental observations can be evaluated Force – a push or pull on an object Motion – the act of changing location from one place to another Turbine – a machine designed to produce continuous energy using a wheel or rotor designed to rotate is brought under pressure of water, steam or air Variable – slightly altered on purpose to test the effect

Lesson process/steps:

Show the animation of the turbine moving. https://energy.gov/eere/wind/animation-how-wind-turbine-works Use the first animation to explain the different parts of the turbine.

Click on the animation in the right corner to show how electricity is generated in a wind farm.

Store-bought pinwheels work best for this experiment, but if you don’t have access, students can build their own. Divide students into partner groups and distribute materials. Use the included instructions to build the pinwheels. After the students (or pairs) have a pinwheel, bring the students’ attention back to the animation of a wind turbine. Ask, “What has to happen for a wind turbine to produce electricity?” It has to spin/rotate. Say, “We’re going to study the effects of wind on a pinwheel. Before we can begin, we need to have a starting point to compare against. Our wind turbines are not turning at the moment. You are at rest. The stationary pinwheel is referred to as our control. It is our control as the pinwheels remain the same throughout our testing. They need a force acting on them to make them move. What force makes a turbine or a pinwheel turn?” Wind. “For this to be a fair investigation, we need to think about our variables. Variables are things that can change. We just want to change one thing at a time. We will simulate some wind speeds on our pinwheels to see which wind speed moves them best.” Ask, “How might we create some ‘wind’ in the classroom?” Students can suggest a variety of methods, including blowing up their wind turbines. As soon as the suggestion comes to blow on them, say, “We’re going to try to create some ‘wind’ by blowing. Take your pinwheel and see if you can make it spin by blowing on it.” Give the students some time to do this. Say, “We were able to make our pinwheels spin because of the force of the moving air we provided. What was the effect of the force we applied?” Movement – ​​the pinwheels spin. “Now let’s do some extra exploration!”

Note to teachers: Being able to purchase multiple fans and hair dryers allows more students to access the materials, allowing more time for investigation.

Analysis In this activity, students explore the higher-order reasoning ability of analysis. Synthesis In this activity, students explore the higher-order reasoning ability of synthesis. Application In this activity, students explore the higher thinking ability of application.

After students have had sufficient time to explore, have them put the materials aside and come together for a class discussion. Go through each of the experiments on the sheet and ask some students to share their results for each experiment. After discussing your findings, say, “Now I want you to turn around and talk with a partner about what conclusions you can draw from how the force of the wind affects the motion of a pinwheel. You have 60 seconds for both partners to share their thoughts.” Allow students time to listen together for important ideas as they do so. Make a note of which students have identified important concepts so you can ask them to share them with the whole group. In general, students should come to the following conclusions:

Allow time for students to listen together for important ideas as they do so. Make a note of which students have identified important concepts so you can ask them to share them with the whole group. In general, students should come to the following conclusions: It takes a certain amount of wind to make the pinwheel spin. (Students may be able to see that the force of the wind must overcome gravity and friction, which are also acting on the pinwheel.) The higher the wind speed; the faster the windmill spins. The wind direction influences the movement of the windmill.

Say, “As we continue to process what we have learned, I want us to see what happens when the wind hits a pinwheel from both sides.” Have two students come up and both blow on the pinwheel at the same time. One should blow to move it clockwise and the other to move it counterclockwise. Try to balance the two forces so that the pinwheel doesn’t move at all. Say, “When an object is subjected to equal (balanced) forces, it does not move.”

To help students apply these concepts to the generation of wind energy, say, “Now let’s think about how some of our observations and conclusions about the wind turbines might relate to wind turbines used to generate energy.” Discuss each of the following conclusions, have students express their ideas on how they might relate to wind energy generation, adding ideas as needed. “It takes a certain amount of wind to get the windmill turning.” (Students may be able to see that the force of the wind must overcome the gravitational and frictional forces that also act on the pinwheel). This means that there must be enough wind to set the turbines in motion. Engineers need to find locations with sufficient wind speeds. This also means that the turbines don’t move when the wind isn’t blowing or isn’t blowing strong enough, which means they don’t produce any energy. “The higher the wind speed, the faster the windmill spins.” Because the spinning turbine produces energy, faster turbines mean more energy. We want to set up turbines where there are high wind speeds. Note: An important consideration is that this idea has a limit. Ask students what they think would happen if they added faster and faster wind to their pinwheels. At some point it would be too much for the pinwheel. The same applies to turbines. If the wind blows too strongly, the system operators sometimes have to switch them off. There are also a few locations in Wyoming where turbines have been installed, and engineers have since determined that these are not ideal locations for wind power production because they are actually too windy. “The direction of the wind affects the movement of the windmill.” The turbines have to face the wind in order for it to turn. All turbines have computer controls that allow them to rotate so they face the wind.

Valuation:

When you are finished discussing the conclusions, collect the students’ prediction and observation sheets and pass the strength and movement test for understanding. This fill in the blank activity is designed to help you assess students’ understanding of the science content of the lesson. Any concepts that students struggle with can be revisited in future lessons.

Note to the teacher: When assessing the comprehension test against the science standard, it is important that the students are able to answer the second, third and fourth statements accurately. The first statement provides insight into the students’ understanding of the subject matter, but is not intended to provide insight into 3-PS2-1.

Credits/Sources:

A pinwheel

Traditional Bangladeshi pinwheel made of paper and plastic

toy

A pinwheel is a simple children’s toy consisting of a wheel made of paper or plastic curls attached to a stick at its axle with a pin. It is designed to rotate when blown by a person or by the wind. It is a predecessor of more complex vortices.

history [edit]

During the nineteenth century in the United States, any wind-powered toy held aloft by a running child was called a whirl, including pinwheels. Pinwheels have provided hours of fun and entertainment for many children.[1]

An Armenian immigrant toymaker, Tegran M. Samour, invented the modern version of the pinwheel, originally titled the “pinwheel,” in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1919. Samour (short for Samourkashian) owned a toy store in Stoneham, Massachusetts and sold the pinwheel along with two other toys he had invented.[2]

See also[edit]

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If you’re looking for an easy activity to do with your kids, then this tutorial on how to make a foam pinwheel is perfect for you! Whether your little ones want something to play with or a decorative gift for mom, this easy tutorial will make a great bookmark for later.

These cute pinwheels don’t actually spin, but they’ll add a bit of color to any garden or party. Thanks to the wooden skewer, they can also be easily placed in flower pots or vases!

Once you know how to make a foam pinwheel, you’ll be making it with the kids all the time! So why not read on and make a whole bunch of these with the kids today!

How to make a foam pinwheel

What will you need:

colored foam

Keys

wooden skewers

scissors

Glue

A good reason to make these pinwheels, besides being naturally beautiful, is that it’s a great way to turn learning into a fun activity. The younger children can practice learning their colors while the older children can learn dexterity and develop their fine motor skills by working with scissors.

Step 1

Cut a 15cm x 15cm square out of the foam sheet

step 2

Cut from each corner toward the center, stopping short about 2cm.

step 3

Take a tip from one of the segments and fold it in half and glue in place.

step 4

Repeat with the other three segments.

step 5

Glue a decorative button to the center of your foam wheel shape.

step 6

Take the wooden skewer and insert the tip into the back of the pin wheel, behind the button.

We have shown two different sizes with a single button center. Nothing stands in the way of additional decoration. Remember that they don’t actually twist so you can make them extra pretty. Feathers, sequins or glitter could be used. Why not also use felt-tip pens to draw patterns on the foam sheets?

This tutorial was brought to you by Cutfoam, the foam pillow specialists. If you would like a fun foam tutorial for your blog please contact [email protected] for more information. Don’t forget to follow KiddyCharts on Pinterest for more fun activities for the kids!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy

Ready for a fun craft that can be made in minutes? How to make paper pinwheels with a straw for your next craft day, party, or special celebration!

Here are a few more colorful crafts you might enjoy: paper bag pinatas, painted rock carvings, and stained glass butterflies.

Is there anything brighter and more colorful than these fun paper pinwheels? How can you look at these and not smile and be happy?! Colorful paper pinwheels are some of the easiest paper crafts you will ever make – I first learned how to make these in elementary school – they are a great craft for little hands. They can be an affordable and quick way to decorate for a birthday party, baby shower, or family gathering. How they are made –

Simple paper pinwheels with a straw

DELIVERIES –

Paper*

scissors

Hole Punch / Crop-A-Dile, the smaller the hole the better.

paper straw**

Brad Fasteners

*You can use your favorite craft paper – cardstock, construction paper, scrapbook paper, gift wrap, decorative paper, printer paper – in the print and color of your choice, but we’ve found that the thinner paper works best if you plan to rotate them itself in the wind.

** Instead of a brass fastener you can also use a wooden dowel with a straight pin.

DIRECTIONS –

Cut a piece of paper into a perfect square. (You can do this by bringing opposite corners together and trimming the strip on the side.

Cut the paper into 4 diagonal lines from each corner to about 1 inch from the center.

Punch small holes in the corner of the paper to the left of each straight cut you made with your scissors.

Using a hole punch or the tip of a pencil, make a hole in the center of the paper.

Flatten one end of your paper straw, then punch a hole in it.

Bring each corner with a hole in the center of the paper and lace a brad through each hole. Line up the hole in your straw with the brad and insert the brad through the straw. Attach the brad to secure.

And you’re done!

How cute would a bunch of paper pinwheels look in a vase of paper flowers or a fresh floral arrangement? You could even make some minis to use as cupcake toppers! There are just so many fun ways to use these pinwheels.

HERE’S A PRINTABLE CRAFT CARD SO YOU CAN SAVE THIS IDEA FOR USE LATER –

Print Pin 5 out of 2 votes Paper Pinwheels Are you ready for a fun craft that takes minutes to make? How to make paper pinwheels with a straw for your next craft day, party, or special celebration! Preparation time 5 minutes Ingredients Paper*

scissors

Hole Punch / Crop-A-Dile The smaller the hole, the better.

paper straw**

Brad Fasteners Instructions Cut a piece of paper into a perfect square. (You can do this by bringing opposite corners together and trimming the strip on the side.

Cut the paper into 4 diagonal lines from each corner to about 1 inch from the center.

Punch small holes in the corner of the paper to the left of each straight cut you made with your scissors.

Using a hole punch or the tip of a pencil, make a hole in the center of the paper.

Flatten one end of your paper straw, then punch a hole in it.

Bring each corner with a hole in the center of the paper and lace a brad through each hole. Line up the hole in your straw with the brad and insert the brad through the straw. Attach the brad to secure.

…and you’re done! Notes *You can use your favorite craft paper – cardstock, craft paper, scrapbook paper, gift wrap, decorative paper, printer paper – in the print and color of your choice, but we’ve found that the thinner paper works best if you let this go ahead they spin in the wind. ** Instead of a brass fastener you can also use a wooden dowel with a straight pin.

More fun crafts for kids

Paper pinwheels are versatile crafts that are easy enough for kids to make with little supervision and beautiful enough to add a whimsical touch to any event with DIY decor. This original fidget spinner can be made with any type of paper you have at your disposal.

Paper pinwheels are a great way for budding scientists to test and explore the power of breath and air! The stronger your breath, the faster they spin. As a parent/educator, let these wind turbines provide STEM support while talking to kids about wind turbines, windmills and renewable energy

However, if you don’t have kids, these pinwheels make an excellent DIY project for decorating baby showers, adding a fun touch to a brunch buffet, and might even make a lovely addition to a wedding.

Lesson 4: Force and Motion – Explorations with Pinwheels

Grade level: 3rd grade

Time: 60 minutes (Additional time will be needed if students build pinwheels.)

Fundamental Question: How can we be stewards of Wyoming’s mineral and energy resources to benefit present and future generations?

Objectives: Students will study balanced and unbalanced forces and their effects on the movement of an object by looking at the effects of different “wind” forces on a pinwheel.

Purpose: Students will learn how wind speed and direction affects a turbine in Wyoming.

Materials/resources required:

Animation of how a wind turbine works (Source 1) https://energy.gov/eere/wind/animation-how-wind-turbine-works Store-bought wind turbines (recommended) – (at least one per pair of students) OR Materials for wind turbines Wind turbine template on cardboard (one per student) (Source 2) Scissors Pins or thumbtacks Unsharpened pencil Fan (at least one; more than one if possible – see step 4) Hair dryer (at least one; more than one if possible – see step 4) Make sure Make sure the dryer is set to “cold” or “medium,” especially if you’re using store-bought pinwheels. Straws Force and Motion with Pinwheels Sheet Predictions and Observations (one per student) Gap Exercise Force and Motion (one per student)

Norms:

Science: 3-PS2-1-(DCI), 3-5-ETS1-3(Explicit)

Suggested teacher preparation:

Follow the link and practice how a wind turbine works with the animations. If you didn’t buy any pinwheels, practice making the pinwheel to help the students. Test the pinwheel experiments to familiarize yourself with the results.

Vocabulary:

Control – standard by which experimental observations can be evaluated Force – a push or pull on an object Motion – the act of changing location from one place to another Turbine – a machine designed to produce continuous energy using a wheel or rotor designed to rotate is brought under pressure of water, steam or air Variable – slightly altered on purpose to test the effect

Lesson process/steps:

Show the animation of the turbine moving. https://energy.gov/eere/wind/animation-how-wind-turbine-works Use the first animation to explain the different parts of the turbine.

Click on the animation in the right corner to show how electricity is generated in a wind farm.

Store-bought pinwheels work best for this experiment, but if you don’t have access, students can build their own. Divide students into partner groups and distribute materials. Use the included instructions to build the pinwheels. After the students (or pairs) have a pinwheel, bring the students’ attention back to the animation of a wind turbine. Ask, “What has to happen for a wind turbine to produce electricity?” It has to spin/rotate. Say, “We’re going to study the effects of wind on a pinwheel. Before we can begin, we need to have a starting point to compare against. Our wind turbines are not turning at the moment. You are at rest. The stationary pinwheel is referred to as our control. It is our control as the pinwheels remain the same throughout our testing. They need a force acting on them to make them move. What force makes a turbine or a pinwheel turn?” Wind. “For this to be a fair investigation, we need to think about our variables. Variables are things that can change. We just want to change one thing at a time. We will simulate some wind speeds on our pinwheels to see which wind speed moves them best.” Ask, “How might we create some ‘wind’ in the classroom?” Students can suggest a variety of methods, including blowing up their wind turbines. As soon as the suggestion comes to blow on them, say, “We’re going to try to create some ‘wind’ by blowing. Take your pinwheel and see if you can make it spin by blowing on it.” Give the students some time to do this. Say, “We were able to make our pinwheels spin because of the force of the moving air we provided. What was the effect of the force we applied?” Movement – ​​the pinwheels spin. “Now let’s do some extra exploration!”

Note to teachers: Being able to purchase multiple fans and hair dryers allows more students to access the materials, allowing more time for investigation.

Analysis In this activity, students explore the higher-order reasoning ability of analysis. Synthesis In this activity, students explore the higher-order reasoning ability of synthesis. Application In this activity, students explore the higher thinking ability of application.

After students have had sufficient time to explore, have them put the materials aside and come together for a class discussion. Go through each of the experiments on the sheet and ask some students to share their results for each experiment. After discussing your findings, say, “Now I want you to turn around and talk with a partner about what conclusions you can draw from how the force of the wind affects the motion of a pinwheel. You have 60 seconds for both partners to share their thoughts.” Allow students time to listen together for important ideas as they do so. Make a note of which students have identified important concepts so you can ask them to share them with the whole group. In general, students should come to the following conclusions:

Allow time for students to listen together for important ideas as they do so. Make a note of which students have identified important concepts so you can ask them to share them with the whole group. In general, students should come to the following conclusions: It takes a certain amount of wind to make the pinwheel spin. (Students may be able to see that the force of the wind must overcome gravity and friction, which are also acting on the pinwheel.) The higher the wind speed; the faster the windmill spins. The wind direction influences the movement of the windmill.

Say, “As we continue to process what we have learned, I want us to see what happens when the wind hits a pinwheel from both sides.” Have two students come up and both blow on the pinwheel at the same time. One should blow to move it clockwise and the other to move it counterclockwise. Try to balance the two forces so that the pinwheel doesn’t move at all. Say, “When an object is subjected to equal (balanced) forces, it does not move.”

To help students apply these concepts to the generation of wind energy, say, “Now let’s think about how some of our observations and conclusions about the wind turbines might relate to wind turbines used to generate energy.” Discuss each of the following conclusions, have students express their ideas on how they might relate to wind energy generation, adding ideas as needed. “It takes a certain amount of wind to get the windmill turning.” (Students may be able to see that the force of the wind must overcome the gravitational and frictional forces that also act on the pinwheel). This means that there must be enough wind to set the turbines in motion. Engineers need to find locations with sufficient wind speeds. This also means that the turbines don’t move when the wind isn’t blowing or isn’t blowing strong enough, which means they don’t produce any energy. “The higher the wind speed, the faster the windmill spins.” Because the spinning turbine produces energy, faster turbines mean more energy. We want to set up turbines where there are high wind speeds. Note: An important consideration is that this idea has a limit. Ask students what they think would happen if they added faster and faster wind to their pinwheels. At some point it would be too much for the pinwheel. The same applies to turbines. If the wind blows too strongly, the system operators sometimes have to switch them off. There are also a few locations in Wyoming where turbines have been installed, and engineers have since determined that these are not ideal locations for wind power production because they are actually too windy. “The direction of the wind affects the movement of the windmill.” The turbines have to face the wind in order for it to turn. All turbines have computer controls that allow them to rotate so they face the wind.

Valuation:

When you are finished discussing the conclusions, collect the students’ prediction and observation sheets and pass the strength and movement test for understanding. This fill in the blank activity is designed to help you assess students’ understanding of the science content of the lesson. Any concepts that students struggle with can be revisited in future lessons.

Note to the teacher: When assessing the comprehension test against the science standard, it is important that the students are able to answer the second, third and fourth statements accurately. The first statement provides insight into the students’ understanding of the subject matter, but is not intended to provide insight into 3-PS2-1.

Credits/Sources:

This easy garden pinwheel craft for kids is a perfect way to personalize your garden area and use up some of those old artworks you have lying around. We love easy ways to brighten up our garden, like these fairy garden flower pots or these adorable spiral paper snails, and this project is just as fabulous. It can add so much to your garden. Plus, it’s the perfect way to repurpose all those extra drawings and paintings your kids made into a super cute recycled piece of art to display in your backyard!

Garden pinwheel crafts for kids

Adding a personal touch to your garden is a fun way to encourage your kids to help out in the garden. There are a few things you need when gardening with kids, but kids also really enjoy personalizing their garden space. It’s a fun way to keep them occupied in the garden while they wait for all those plants to grow.

Accessories for pinwheel crafts

Old artwork or colored paper

scissors

Brass fasteners

Small wooden dowel

Hole punch (optional)

instructions

Begin this easy pinwheel craft by collecting several of your child’s artworks. Cut each piece into a 4″x 4″ or 5″x 5″ square. Next, fold the square in half at the corners to form a triangle. Unfold and repeat this step from the other corner. This should form an “X” shape on your paper when unfolded.

Using scissors, make four diagonal cuts along the folded lines of the “X” toward the center of the paper. Stop at least half an inch from the center.

Next, fold the corner to the left of each cut over the middle. Hold the folded tips while you push a brass clasp through the center, or use a hole punch to poke a hole and then push the brass clasp through. Make sure you pierce all four folded corners, you need all four to shape your pinwheel. Rotate the artwork back and forth around the brass clasp a few times until the paper slides back and forth easily. This will ensure that your pinwheel can turn in the wind.

If the artwork to be recycled is single-sided only, turn it face down before beginning this step. This allows the colored parts of the artwork to be seen.

Wrap the ends of the brass clasp around the wooden dowel. Make sure they are tight to avoid your pinwheel sliding onto the bottom of the dowel.

This is the last step! Try it, blow on the pinwheel and watch it spin! Now your wind turbine is ready to find its new home in your garden.