Weather vanes were originally used during the times of the ancient Greeks. Although people at that time didn't understand wind or its properties, they did recognize its importance in predicting weather conditions. The weather vane works by spinning and pointing in the direction that the wind is blowing from, and is probably the world's oldest meteorological tool. You can make this fun and easy project quickly using materials that you probably already have around the house.
Step 1
Trace the paper plate onto a piece of cardboard. Decorate the cardboard circle with markers or crayons, and cut it out with scissors. Print "North," "East," "South," and "West" with permanent marker in the appropriate positions of the decorated side of the cardboard, and set it aside. This will become the base for your weather vane.
Step 2
Use a ruler to draw the triangular pattern for the head of the arrow on a plain piece of paper. Make the arrowhead about 3.5 centimeters wide from the point to the back edge, and about 5.5 centimeters tall.
Step 3
Use the ruler again to draw the pattern for the tail, which you should draw right beside the arrowhead drawing. Draw a rectangle that's as tall as the arrow's head wlll be, and make it about 4.5 centimeters wide. Draw a triangle shape into the back edge to create an arrow tail.
Step 4
Cut both of the plain paper pattern shapes out with scissors and trace them onto a piece of cardboard. Decorate each side of them with crayons and markers, and then cut out the cardboard shapes. Don't forget to cut the notch out of the arrow's tail.
Step 5
Use the scissors to cut a slot about a centimeter long into each end of the drinking straw. Slip the arrow's cardboard head and tail into the slots in the straw. Position them evenly and tape them into place.
Step 6
Use the ruler to find the center of the straw. Stick a pushpin or thumbtack through the straw at that point, and into the top of an unsharpened pencil eraser.
Step 7
Roll the modeling clay into a ball about the size of a cherry or grape. Stick the unsharpened end of the pencil into the clay, and then press the bottom of the clay ball firmly to the center of your decorated cardboard weather vane base.
Step 8
Blow on the arrow to test your weather vane. Make sure that it spins easily and freely. If it seems a bit stiff, you may have the pin pressed too closely to the straw. Loosening that up just a bit should be all the adjustment that you'll need for a working weather vane.
Skill: Easy
Ingredients:
- Ruler
- Plain paper
- 2 pieces of cardboard
- Paper plate
- Scissors
- Clear tape
- Push pin or thumbtack
- Unsharpened pencil with eraser
- Modeling clay
- Crayons and markers
Keyword: simple weathervane weather vane
