How to Make a Windmill Sail Out of Cardboard

You can make a windmill sail for a diorama.

Building a mock windmill is an ideal way to teach students about the purposes and utilities of energy and farming mills. If you're building a faux windmill for a diorama or science project, it is simple to add the spinning windmill sail. Using a bit of spare cardboard and a metal paper fastener, you can make a windmill sail that can be easily attached to the windmill diorama. The sail will then spin as if it is a part of a working windmill.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Markers
• Metal paper fastener
• Windmill construction

Instructions

1. Draw a square onto a piece of cardboard, using a ruler to make the square about 4 inches by 4 inches.

2. Cut the square out using a pair of scissors.

3. Cut a square from each corner of the square of cardboard, making each cut-out square 1 inch by 1 inch. The remaining shape should look like a plus sign.

4. Decorate the cardboard plus sign with markers, to match your windmill diorama.

5. Attach the windmill sail to your diorama, using a metal paper fastener at the center, so that the sail can spin when you give it a flick.

References

• Artists Helping Children: How to Make Paper Windmills with Paper Modelling Craft Instructions