Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Make a Wind Vane

A Wind Vane is a weather instrument (tool) that shows the direction of the wind.








Here are directions to make a simple wind vane.




Materials

  • safety goggles
  • recycled empty plastic container (yogurt, frosting, etc.) with a cover
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • heavy paper/cardboard
  • glue
  • straw
  • pushpin
  • rocks/sand/pebbles/clay (optional)



    Directions
    • All participants should wear safety goggles.
    • Cover or decorate the plastic container, if desired.
    • Make a small hole in the center of the plastic cover.
    • Push a pencil through the center hole. The eraser end should stick out.
    • Cut 4 small triangles, 1 larger triangle ,and 1 even larger rectangle from the cardboard.
    • Label the 4 smaller triangles. (N, E, S, W).
    • Glue the 4 small triangles on the edges of the container around the pencil in 4 different directions.
    • Cut a half inch slit in each end of the straw.
    • Put the larger triangle into the slit on one end. Put the rectangle into the slit on the other end.
    • Place a pushpin through the center of the straw then into the eraser on the pencil.
    • Check that the straw is not too tight so that it can spin easily in the wind.
    • To make the wind vane heavier so that the wind will not knock it over, try adding some rocks, pebbles, sand, or clay inside the plastic container.
    • Place the wind vane outside. Use a compass to check that the triangle labeled N is facing North.
    • Write down the direction that the wind is blowing from in a science journal/notebook along with the date, time of day, and location.

    Have fun learning about weather.








    6 comments:

    1. Hi,

      You just given me a good idea as a project for my students. From Alexa Blog Hop drop with love and added you in my list.

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      http://www.traveltomydreams.com/
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      Thank you

      Lady

      ReplyDelete
    2. Thanks for dropping by. I will visit you at your blog! :)

      ReplyDelete
    3. I like this project - it's nice and simple and doable!

      ReplyDelete
    4. great! I am pinning this onto my science board!

      Thanks for sharing on the Sunday Showcase - hope to see you this week.

      Bern

      ReplyDelete
    5. I'm loving your weather ideas, these are so much fun.

      ReplyDelete
    6. This is fantastic! I'm going to pin it. my daughter would love it! Love it! Thanks for sharing at Thrifty Thursday, hope to see you this week!Love it! Thanks for sharing at Thrifty Thursday, hope to see you this week!

      ReplyDelete

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