How to Make Wind Turbines

Wind power, along with solar power and hydroelectric power, is an energy source considered to be a viable alternative to fossil fuels, as it is renewable and natural, and wind turbine farms are already being used to generate enormous amounts of power.
Renewable alternative energy sources are a great educational topic for children of all ages. Making a model of a wind turbine is a fun way to show kids how wind power works. While it's possible to make a more complex, functional wind turbine at school by purchasing a kit with the requisite parts, younger children can make model wind turbines from common arts and crafts supplies.

Things You'll Need

• One 12-inch wood dowel
• One 1-inch-in-diameter cork
• Two three-quarter-inch wood blocks
• Wood or craft glue
• Two washers with openings that fit over dowel
• One thick 7-Inch drinking straw
• Scissors
• One hatpin or straight pin
• One piece of construction paper
• One 16-Inch piece of nylon fishing line

Instructions

1. Stick the dowel into the cork. If it doesn't fit into the cork easily shave off the end of the dowel into a small point and try again. The dowel will work as the shaft of the turbine.

2. Glue one of the wooden blocks to the side of the dowel about two inches to the left of the cork. It doesn't matter on which side of the dowel the wood is placed.

3. Push a washer onto the dowel behind the block of wood until it is flush with the block of wood.

4. Slide the straw over the dowel behind the washer.

5. Push the other washer onto the dowel behind the straw.

6. Glue the other wooden block onto the dowel behind the second washer. Glue the second block onto the same side of the dowel as you glued the first block.

7. Cut a square of construction paper 8 by 8 inches. Cut a diagonal line 4 1/2 inches long from each corner toward the center of the paper. This will give you four "leaves" of paper.

8. Make a pinwheel out of the paper. Take the left edge of one leaf and fold it to the center, gluing the edge in place. Repeat for each of the leaves until you have your pinwheel shape. The pinwheel is the rotor of your turbine.

9. Place the center of the pinwheel onto the cork and stick the hatpin through the pinwheel into the cork to keep it in place.

10. Glue one end of the fishing line onto the dowel behind the cork and wind the fishing line around the dowel between the cork and the first block, leaving about 10 inches of line hanging off.

11. Tie the free end of the fishing line to any small weight.

12. Test the turbine by putting the pinwheel in the face of a stiff wind or an electric fan. Hold the straw, and the wind will turn the pinwheel. The pinwheel will turn the dowel and wind the fishing line around the shaft, making the weighted object rise.

Tips & Warnings

• Dowels are wood sticks of varying sizes. You can find craft dowels at hardware stores and craft-supply stores (see additional resources).

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Wood Dowels