Popsicle Stick Windmill Project
A windmill project is an opportunity for students to practice their crafting skills while learning how a windmill works to produce power. Making a windmill using Popsicle sticks is an uncomplicated task that requires only basic gluing and painting skills, which makes it suitable for elementary school children. The project also introduces students to the concept of renewable energy, a topic teachers can elaborate on during subsequent lessons.
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Materials
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The main material for this project is Popsicle sticks, so you need to choose the right sticks for the craft. Do not go for cylindrical sticks -- instead, use flat and wide Popsicle sticks. They are easier to glue together and make for a sturdy craft. Buy Popsicle sticks, or craft sticks, from supermarkets or art and craft stores. Don't use sticks from frozen treats you have consumed since absorbed moisture renders them unsuitable for the craft.
Glue
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Use instant glue or PVA wood glue to stick Popsicle sticks together. This way, you ensure a sturdy construction without having to wait long for the adhesive to dry. It is easier to make the craft by using a cardboard base for the windmill and gluing the Popsicle sticks onto the base. Don't use paper glue, which is too weak of an adhesive for wooden sticks.
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Assembly
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Form the windmill tower by using a cardboard base such as a milk carton -- or a toilet paper roll for a cylindrical tower. Glue the Popsicle sticks onto your cardboard base, covering it completely. You can easily break Popsicle sticks with your hands to cover small areas. To create the windmill blades, make an "X" with two sticks and glue them together at their center points. Hold the blades near the top of the windmill's facade. Pierce the center of the blades and the windmill's facade with a deck screw that has a Type 17 thread cutting tip. This way, the blades can spin while remaining attached to the windmill tower.
Painting
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Tempera paints, acrylic paints and coloring pens are suitable choices for decorating your Popsicle stick windmill. Acrylic paints and tempera paints, which are easier for students to use, are the best choice since they both dry within minutes. Coloring pens dry instantly, too, but they don't produce the smooth, solidly colored result of acrylic or tempera paints. Remember to paint the tower before attaching the windmill blades to it.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
