Pinwheel Lesson
Objective: To utilize the winds of March to teach about wind power demonstrated through pinwheels.
Materials: Square piece of colored cardstock or sturdy construction paper (about 8″ x 8″), ruler, scotch tape, pencil with full eraser, thumbtack
Instructions:
- Begin the class by discussing energy and different ways we use energy from the earth. Introduce the idea of wind energy and how it’s a good alternative energy source. Talk about having love for the environment.
- Have each student choose a square of paper.
- Next, have them use a ruler or flat edge to draw a diagonal line across the square of paper, from the bottom left to the top right. Repeat from the top left to the bottom right corner to form an X.
- Now, have them make a mark about 1/3 of the distance from the center of the X on each of the lines.
- Help them cut each line from the outer corner towards the center, stopping at the marks, so that the center third of the square remains uncut.
- Have kids decorate the points on the left side.
- In each quadrant, pull the undecorated point on the right to the center, being careful not to crease the fold. Tape the four points to the center to hold them in place.
- When the pinwheel is complete, go to each student and poke a thumbtack through the center of their pinwheel into the eraser of the pencil so the sharp part of the thumbtack isn’t sticking out.