Directions for Making a Weather Vane
Making weather vanes provides an excellent learning basis for all elementary school children. The extent of the teaching during the project depends on the age of the students. Fifth-graders may use their crafted weather vanes to show how a different wind direction indicates a change in the local weather, while first-graders may simply learn the four directions in the process. In either case, it's an engaging craft that activates young minds and presents an opportunity for learning.
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Things You'll Need
- Straw
- Pencil
- Straight pin
- Plastic or Styrofoam food container
- Card stock
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape or glue
- Paper clips
- Compass
Instructions
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1
Cut the four corners from a piece of card stock. Label each triangle with the letter representing a wind direction -- N, E, S and W -- using a marker of contrasting color. Cut two more card-stock triangles to make arrow points for the spinning vane.
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2
Turn a plastic or Styrofoam food container upside down. Poke a pencil through the center of the upturned bottom with the eraser sticking up.
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3
Place the direction triangles on the bottom of the food container with the letters N, E, S and W arranged clockwise around the container base. Glue the four triangles to the container with the corners touching to form a square and the points sticking outward in four directions.
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4
Cut 1 1/2-inch slots in the ends of a straw. Make the slots in the same direction on both ends of the straw. Slip the card-stock triangles into the slots with one pointing inward and the other pointing away from the first. Glue or tape the triangles to the straw and allow for drying time if necessary. Push two paper clips into the straw end that has the point facing inward to make that end heavier.
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5
Hold the straw horizontally with the arrow triangles pointing to one side and standing upright and vertical. Push a straight pin through the center of the straw and then push the pin into the eraser on the pencil standing up through the food container. After making weather vanes with young students, test all the straws to be sure they spin freely Pull the pins out of the erasers slightly for any that do not spin.
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6
Use a compass to set your crafted weather vanes down in the right direction. Allow the wind to spin the arrow and point it in a particular direction. This is the direction from which the wind is blowing.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
