As a part of our weather unit, we made watercolor pinwheels.  Pinwheels are so easy to make and so beautiful to see in the wind.  There are several methods of attaching the pinwheel – the method of I am sharing is from my colleague, Mrs. Flynn.  It works!

What you will need:

• copy of the pinwheel pattern on white cardstock
• pencils
• straight pins with round plastic heads
• watercolors
• masking tape or duck tape

Click here to download pattern.

STEP ONE:  Watercolor your pinwheel pattern.  Watercolor both sides.  Let dry.

STEP TWO: (for teachers) Cut the pinwheel out and cut a long black slits.

STEP THREE:  Using a straight pin with a plastic ball top, push four alternating corners through the pin.  You do not have to be exact.  I just gather up those corners on the pin.

Here my corners are gathered!

STEP FOUR:  With corners still gathered push pin through the silver part of the pencil.  Yup.  It will go through with a nice push!  Leave enough of the pin on the “pinwheel” side for spinning.

STEP FIVE:  Bend the end of the pin down.

STEP SIX:  Wrap the silver part of the pencil (with the pin bent) with masking tape or duck tape.

Look how cute it is!

STEP SEVEN:  Go outside and watch it spin in the wind!