Family Fun Blog

Remember playing with pinwheels as a child? You can show your kids how to make these easy, fun toys with very few, inexpensive supplies. After making a basic pinwheel, you can experiment with all kinds of variations on decorations. It can be fun to put a design that creates an effect when the pinwheel is spun.

For a basic pinwheel, you will need to first cut a square out of cardstock or construction paper. The square should be about 5 inches on each side. Draw a circle in the center of the square, about 1inch in diameter. Then cut from each corner to the edge of the circle, leaving the center circle intact. Fold down every other corner (don’t crease them) and poke a thumbtack through the four corners you folded down. Press the thumbtack through the center of your circle and into the eraser of a new pencil (preferably unsharpened). Make sure there is enough “give” between the cardstock and the eraser to allow the pinwheel to spin freely. If you like, you can also place a tiny bead between the cardstock and the eraser to allow space.