How to Make a Wind Twirler From a Plastic Bottle
Weather vanes, windsocks and the like all let you know how windy it is outside while looking out the window from the comfort of your home. A wind spinner will also tell you about the speed of the wind outside. Make your own wind spinner from a recycled plastic soda bottle in a matter of minutes. Help your children make their own wind spinner as part of a lesson on weather.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic 2 liter soda bottle Electrical tape in different colors Tape measure Pen Craft knife Drill and small drill bit Paper clip Fishing line
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove any labels from your bottle and rinse it out.
-
2
Wrap the middle of the bottle, from where the taper of the top ends to where the taper of the bottom begins, in strips of different colors of electrical tape.
-
-
3
Use a measuring tape and pen to mark along the top of tape wrapped section every 3/4 inch around the bottle.
-
4
Cut down the bottle every 3/4 inch, using a craft knife, from the top to the bottom of the tape wrapped section. Be very careful not to cut yourself when doing this.
-
5
Stand the bottle up and push the top of the bottle down forcing the strips you just cut to pop out.
-
6
Crease the strips in the middle of their height so they stay popped out. Crease the strips in opposite directions at 45 degree angles at their top and bottom. So at the top, crease the strips at a 45 degree angle to the right, and at the bottom, crease them at a 45 degree angle to the left. This gives the strips an angle that will catch the wind.
-
7
Drill a hole in the center of the bottle's lid.
-
8
Straighten a paper clip and then fold it in half and twist the two ends together half an inch down from the fold. Open the fold a little so the clip forms a loop.
-
9
Pinch the ends of the paper clip together and push them through the hole in the top of the soda bottle lid. Open the ends back up once they are through the lid.
-
10
Screw the lid back on the bottle and tie a length of fishing line to the loop of the paper clip so you can hang your wind spinner.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Paint your soda bottle with spray paint before taping and cutting it to make your wind spinner more colorful. Use brightly colored duct tape from the craft store if you can't find colorful electrical tape.
Adults should do all the cutting and drilling in this project if the craft is being created with children. Never cut directly toward your body with any type of blade. Cut at an angle away from your body when cutting with a craft knife. Also, if the knife seems to get stuff don't increase the force with which you cut, instead remove the blade from the material and reposition it to try and cut it cutting again.
