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Pinwheels delight children as they spin around, their colors whirring together; a true pattern of beauty to behold. Crafting a pinwheel is simple and even the smallest children can make most of the steps (the pin part needs supervision and assistance). Experiment with different types of paper that you have lying about the house to see what sort of different effects you can create.
Steps
- Cut the paper into a 7" x 7" / 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm square as suggested under the "Things You'll Need".
- Draw four equal squares on the piece of paper. Use a pencil and ruler to get the square dimensions accurate and straight. Do not draw the lines too hard or they will show up under your coloring later.
- Color in the squares. Make each square a different color. Here are some ideas for different ways to color the squares:
- Color each square with a marker or pencil;
- Paint each square;
- Glue on pictures cut from a magazine into each square. Be sure to glue firmly.
- Allow paint or glue work to dry before proceeding to the next steps.
- Place a ruler diagonally at the edge of one corner of the square. From the edge, follow the diagonal line of the ruler and draw a line of 3 inches / 7.5 cm toward the middle. Repeat this for each of the corners, so that you have four lines drawn toward the middle, and they are all of the same length.
- Cut along each line to its end.
- Label each line A, B, C and D. Mark on the left side of each cut, as shown.
- Take edges A, B, C and D in your fingers. Pull these to the center of the square.
- Place the pin into the middle of the edges A, B, C and D. Push the pin right through the paper, so that each one of these edges sits snugly on top of the other on the pin.
- Slide a bead onto the underside of the pin. This bead forms the part that permits the windmill to spin between the paper and the stick.
- Place the stick down on a flat surface.
- Place the pinwheel with bead intact above the stick, ready for hammering the pin directly into the stick.
- Hammer with care. Drive the pin into the stick securely. If necessary, fold back any part of the pin that sticks through the other side of the stick.
- Take your pinwheel outside and watch it catch the wind.
Tips
- Try different colored foils that you have saved from chocolates or other foods. Glue these onto the paper in each square. The foil catches the sun's rays and reflects back beautiful colors.
- Try using a soft drink straw instead of a stick, so you don't need to hammer anything, just remember to pin across the whole straw, and then pin a piece of rubber on the other side.
Warnings
- Hammering the pin into the stick should only be done by a competent person. Children should be supervised at all times if attempting this and keep those fingers out of the way!
Things You'll Need
- Piece of heavy quality paper, cut into a square & 7" x 7" / 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Markers, paints, crayons or magazine pictures (your choice)
- Paper glue (if gluing on pictures)
- Picture hook pin (small)
- Bead to serve as backing on the pin (match the size)
- Stick suitable for the handle (a small piece of dowel wood is a good choice that will keep even)
- Hammer
- Scissors
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