How to Make Easy Weathervanes

A weather vane determines the direction that the wind is blowing.

The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education states that the weather vane was likely the first meteorological instrument. The weather vane, or wind vane, is use to determine the direction of the wind. The wind causes the weather vane to spin and point in the direction that the wind is coming from. Construct a simple weather vane out of household materials to study the direction of the wind.

Things You'll Need

• 12-inch-long piece of wood
• Serrated knife
• Nails
• Hammer
• Aluminum plate or pan
• Scissors
• Exterior wood glue
• Washer
• 3-foot-long wooden dowel

Instructions

1. Cut a 1/2-inch vertical slit on each end of a 12-inch-long piece of wood with a serrated knife.

2. Drive a nail all the way through the center of the stick with a hammer. Hold the end of the nail and rotate the wood several times so that the wood spins easily around the nail.

3. Draw a triangle measuring 6 inches across the bottom on an aluminum plate or pan. Draw a trapezoid with a 6-inch bottom and 4-inch top. Cut out the shapes with a sharp pair of scissors.

4. Insert the base of the triangle into one of the slits on the wood and secure with exterior wood glue. Insert the 4-inch side of the trapezoid into the slit on the other end of the wood and secure with wood glue.

5. Place a metal washer on the top of a 3-foot-long wooden dowel. Drive the nail on the 12-inch-long piece of wood through the center of the washer and into the wooden dowel. Ensure that the wooden stick rotates freely.

6. Mount the weathervane as high as possible in an unobstructed area.

References

• The Franklin Institute: Franklin's Forecast: Weather Vane
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization: Make a Weather Vane
• Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education: Make and Use a Wind Vane to Determine Wind Direction
• KinderArt: How to Make a Decorative Weathervane Craft