Breezy : Cool Projects : Wind Wheel



Wind has been used for thousands of years to grind grain, pump water, sail ships, fly kites and perform many other tasks. Wind is not as reliable as other sources of energy, like the sun, because the amount of wind changes from day to day. It is also very hard to predict. Wind generators are special machines used to harness the energy of the wind. Places that usually have a lot wind sometimes build wind farms. In these areas many wind generators are 'planted' in rows. They look like a garden of giant robotic flowers. The large metal petals spin around to create energy which is used to generate electricity. Wind generators range in size. Some are over twenty stories tall with fan blades larger than the size of a football field! The one you'll make will be about 12" high with a 10" fan.

What you will need:

  • scissors
  • white glue
  • a small tack
  • an unsharpened pencil with an eraser on the end
  • a printer hooked up to your computer and paper
    -OR-
  • a square piece of paper* (8.5" x 8.5"), a pencil and a ruler
  • crayons, water color paint or markers (optional)
Instructions:

Instructions with a printer:
  1. Print out Breezy's Wind Wheel pattern and cut out the square diagram.

  2. Cut along the dotted lines to the star.

  3. Place a small drop of glue in the center of the paper on the dot.
  4. Gently place the corner marked "1" down to meet the center dot and press to fasten the glue. Do not crease or flatten out the fold.
  5. Put another small drop of glue on the same spot and place the corner marked "2" down. Continue this for corner "3" and corner "4". Remember all you need is a tiny drop of glue.

  6. Wow! Your Wind Wheel looks great! Once the glue has dried, fasten your Wind Wheel to the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil using a tack or pushpin.

  7. Congratulations! You now have your very own Wind Wheel. Take it out into the wind and watch it work. Or just blow on it! Your Wind Wheel spins in the same way that giant wind generators do as they generate power.


Instructions without a printer:

Even without a printer, a Wind Wheel is fun and easy to make. Just follow these instructions.
  1. Using an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, cut off a 2.5" strip along the bottom. This will make a square that is 8.5" X 8.5".

  2. Use your pencil and ruler to draw a line across the square piece of paper from one corner to the other corner. Do this twice. Your paper now has a large "X" on it.

  3. Measure in from each corner 3.5" and mark those spots with a dot.

  4. Mark the center of the "X" with a dot.

  5. Number the corners of your paper 1 through 4.

  6. Cut in from each corner to the 3.5" mark.

  7. Put a small drop of glue in the center of the paper on the dot.

  8. Gently place the corner marked "1" down to meet the center dot and press to fasten the glue. Do not crease or flatten out the fold.

  9. Put another small drop of glue on the same spot and place the corner marked "2" down in the center. Continue this for corner "3" and corner "4". Remember all you need is a tiny drop of glue for each corner.

  10. Wow! Your Wind Wheel looks great! Once the glue has dried, fasten your Wind Wheel to the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil using a tack or pushpin.

  11. Congratulations! You now have your very own Wind Wheel. Take it out in the wind and watch it work. Or just blow on it! Your Wind Wheel spins the same way that giant wind generators farms do as they generate power."



Other suggestions: You can decorate Breezy's Wind Wheel by coloring the paper with paint, crayons or markers. It is best to do this before you cut and fold it. Remember to decorate both sides. You can also decorate your pencil by wrapping it in paper and coloring it too.