Ages 4-7 · child and adult
Paper pinwheel without a pin
Fold four blades and discover which direction of airflow turns them. Use a split paper fastener.
Set your own pace. Preparation depends on your materials.
What to gather
- 15 × 15 cm paper square
- A split paper fastener with two bendable legs, at least 25 mm long, and a 5 mm straw spacer
- Stiff cardboard handle
- Adult scissors, pencil and tape
Keeping it safe An adult handles the small fastener and makes every hole. Cover its ends. Never substitute a sharp pin or needle; store away from small children after play.
Choose a challenge level
Ages 4-5
The adult assembles it; the child tries gentle breaths from different directions.Ages 6-7
Mark one blade. Observe the direction of rotation and find an angle where it stops.Step-by-step instructions
Mark both diagonals. An adult cuts from each corner towards the centre, stopping 2 cm short.
Bring every other tip to the centre without creasing the loop. An adult makes a hole through the tips and centre and inserts the fastener.
Place a short straw spacer behind the paper. Pass the fastener through the handle, open it loosely and cover its ends with tape. Blow gently from the side.
TATAAA
Now turn it into a game
Wind patrol: outdoors in a safe spot, face the handle in three directions. Where do the blades move? Draw an arrow in your journal.
When it gets tricky
Not turning? The adult loosens the fastener and checks that the paper is not rubbing the handle.
When an experiment goes wrongWhen you are done
The pinwheel turns freely and you find an airflow direction that moves it.
If your child does not want to continue, it is fine to stop. You can safely swap roles or adapt the rules.
What to notice
Air pushes on angled blades and makes them turn. A tight joint creates friction that resists rotation.
Background reading
Keep exploring
Head out on an adventureRain gauge: how much rain fell?
Put a straight-sided container outside and record the water level. Start your own weather journal.
Open mission
Head out on an adventureShadow clock: where did it move?
Trace the shadow of an upright pencil and return later. Observe changes in the sky through marks on paper.
Open mission