Make a paper pinwheel
Typhoons are giant spinning winds. Make your own little spinning wind-catcher!
Trace this square onto another paper, so you don’t cut the newspaper.
You need
A square of paper (about 15 cm on each side), crayons, scissors, a pencil with an eraser on top, and a push pin, used by a grown-up.
Decorate first!
Before you cut, color the square on both sides. Try stripes, dots or a kolam pattern. Each of the four blades can be different.
How does it spin?
Wind pushes on the curved blades and makes them turn. Big wind turbines work the same way, and they make electricity from the wind!
Four easy steps
1. Cut
Cut along the four dashed lines. Stop before the middle!
2. Bend
Bend each corner with a dot into the center. Don’t press it flat.
3. Pin
A grown-up pushes a pin through the dots and the middle, into a pencil’s eraser.
4. Blow!
Blow on it, or hold it up in the breeze. Whee!
Pinwheel experiment
A gentle blow
Fast, slow or not at all?
Fast, slow or not at all?
A big, strong blow
Fast, slow or not at all?
Fast, slow or not at all?
In front of a fan
Fast, slow or not at all?
Fast, slow or not at all?
Did you know?Keralam has wind turbines too, at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki, high in the hills where it is very windy.
Try itWhere is the windiest place near your home? Test your pinwheel there!