Homemade Pinwheel Craft
Get the kids spinning with this simple pinwheel.
Submitted by
Laura
Laura
In the 1800s, pinwheels offered kids endless hours of amusement. (So that's what they did before TV!) Bring some retro fun to your kid and invite him to make his own homemade pinwheel. He may even willingly turn off the tube for a while and entertain himself the old-fashioned way with this craft. Imagine that!
- A piece of thick construction paper
- Scissors
- A ruler
- A pushpin
- A pencil with a big eraser
- Markers or crayons
- Glitter
- White glue
First, turn the rectangular piece of paper into a square by cutting off a few inches at the top. Use the ruler to mark a straight line for cutting.
Invite your kid to bedeck both sides of the paper with the markers, crayons and glitter.
Then help him fold the paper diagonally into a triangle and crease the fold by rubbing it with the edge of the ruler.
Unfold it and fold it the other way so that the paper has two creases in it creating an "X" across the paper.
Help your kid cut along all four creases from the outer corners to about 1½ inches from the middle. Be careful not to cut too close to the center.
Then help your kid carefully bend (not crease or fold) the lower right hand corner flap into the center. Hold it in place with a finger.
Repeat with each of the lower flaps.
Secure the corners in the middle by pushing the pushpin through the middle where they meet.
Help your kid stick the end of the pin into the pencil eraser and ... voilà. He's got a pinwheel.
Have your kid take it outside and watch it twirl. No wind? Set up a fan and create your own wind. Mother Nature is no match for Mother You!
- Is your kid Dora-obsessed? Visit NickJr.com for instructions on how to make a Dora and Boots Pinwheel.
- Pinwheels make fun yard decorations. Make them more weatherproof by laminating the paper after you decorate it.
Submit!
