How to Build a Toy Windmill

Build a toy windmill to add a rustic touch to your toy farm or ranch.

Building a toy or model windmill is the perfect addition to any play farm set. It will add a rustic level of authenticity to your country toy set. Building a toy windmill is also a good project to be used with students in a science class as an example of a wheel and axle. If you are using this in a classroom, substitute white craft glue for the hot glue to limit the risk of children hurting themselves.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Rulers
• Printer paper
• Pencil
• Large coin
• Paper hole-punch
• Hot glue gun
• Brass paper fastener
• Popsicle sticks

Instructions

1. Draw a six-inch by six-inch square on a sheet of printer paper using a pencil.

2. Cut out the square using scissors.

3. Draw a diagonal line from the upper left corner to the lower right corner and then another one from the upper right corner to the lower left corner.

4. Draw a circle by tracing the coin at the point where the lines intersect.

5. Punch a small hole at the center of the circle. Use your pencil tip to create the hole.

6. Punch a hole with the paper hole-punch in each corner of the square.

7. Cut along the diagonal lined up to the center hole but do not cut all the way through.

8. Fold each of the corners down to the center hole. Align all the holes with the center hole.

9. Insert the brass paper fastener through the holes to hold in place. Both of the brads on the fastener should be bent the same direction. Set aside.

10. Glue popsicle sticks into the base. You need four sticks that are vertical but lean toward each other, meeting at the top. About midway up, trim four more sticks to attach to the perimeter, acting as a brace.

11. Insert the brads of the faster in the center of where the popsicles meet on the top. Use a dab of hot glue to secure in place.

References

• Hot Chalk: Simple Machines