Wind Direction Science Experiment

Turn an old shirt sleeve into a wicked-cool windsock!

Submitted by
Laura

Invite your mini Al Roker to create this unique windsock out of one of dad's old shirts. Then hand him a compass and challenge him to tell you which way the wind is blowing for this science experiment. Who knows, one day he could be dazzling the crowds of Rockefeller Center on the Today show just like old Uncle Al!

Mini meteorologist:
Your kid.
An old long-sleeved shirt
Regular pair of scissors
A long piece of wire or thin wire hanger
Measuring tape
Hot glue gun and glue sticks:
Kids and hot glue don't mix so make sure you do all the gluing!
Felt and fabric scraps
Embellishments:
Rhinestones, sequins, jingle bells and buttons.
Wire cutter or strong scissors
A small rock
Fishing wire
A compass

Help your kid cut the sleeve off of an old long-sleeved shirt (emphasis on old).
Show your kid how to measure the circumference of the hole at the top of the sleeve (where it met the shoulder).
Then cut a piece of wire or wire hanger the same length.
Help your kid bend the wire into a circle and twist it to secure.
Ask your kid to pull the top of the sleeve over the wire circle.
Then fold the fabric over the wire and hot-glue it down, as if you were hemming it. Leave about an inch unglued.
Place the small rock into the space you left unglued, hot-glue it into place by putting a little hot glue around it and pressing the fabric down. Then hot-glue the rest of the hem closed.
Help your kid cut the opposite end of the sleeve about two-thirds up into 1- or 2-inch strips.
Next, invite him to decorate the top part of the windsock. He can cut out little shapes of felt or fabric and have you hot-glue them on. Or he can deck it out in sequins, jingle bells, buttons and rhinestones. He can go the minimalist route or go all the way and cover the whole thing in rhinestones like an Elton John costume.
Cut a small slit into the fabric near the wire rim and help your kid tie a piece of fishing wire through it. You'll use the fishing wire to tie the windsock up outside, on the porch, a tree or anywhere where it can flap freely in the breeze.
Invite your kid to grab his compass and head outside to give his meteorologist report. He should watch the way the sock blows and use the compass to determine which direction the wind is blowing.