How to Make a Pinwheel

When you go to the grocery store or any convenient store during the summer months, chances are you've seen the pinwheels waiting at the check out counter. These pinwheels are always a big hit with the kids and can keep them entertained for longer than you'd expect. Instead of purchasing a pinwheel from the store, make an activity out of it so your children can enjoy making their pinwheel as well as playing with it. This way, your children can enjoy a fun craft and have fun with their craft afterwards. Here's how to make a pinwheel:

Materials
-piece of paper or cardboard (one per pinwheel)
-ruler
-markers or paint
-small picture hook pin and a bead to serve as the backing
-dowel rod
-scissors
-hammer

Instructions
1. The first step in making your pin wheel is to cut the paper to the appropriate size. Take paper you have selected and cut it so that it is seven inches on each side.

2. Once the paper is cut, fold it so that it makes four equal squares. Paint or color each one of the squares. You can use any materials you like, but paint and marker work best. You can do all the squares differently or you can choose to decorate them all the same, this is just personal preference. If you choose to use paint, make sure that it is dry before you move on to the next step.

3. Next step in the pinwheel making process it to use the ruler and position it so that it goes from one corner to the corner across from it. Draw a line from the corner to three inches into the square. Do this with all the squares.

4. Once all your lines are drawn on the squares that will form the pinwheels, use the scissors to cut along those lines. Once you've done the cutting, use a marker or pencil to label each left side of the cut A, B, C, and D.

5. Take the edges you labeled A, B, C, and D, and bring them all to the center of the square. Make sure that they all look even and push the pin into the center to hold each of the edges in place. Take the bead and put it on the back of the pin to keep it in place.

6. The next step to make your pinwheel is to get the hammer ready and lay the dowel rod on a flat surface. Take the bead off the back of the pin but make sure that your pinwheel keeps its shape. Place the pinwheel so that the back of the pin is in the center of the dowel rod, and safely hammer the pin into the dowel rod. Now all you have to do is take your new pinwheel out and test it.