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Easy Pinwheel Design for Kids
Science & Discovery Projects6-12 years
Easy
20 Minutes
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Easy Pinwheel Design for Kids

Leyla Şentürk
Leyla Şentürk

J. Maker

What You'll Need

  • Transparent colored A4 paper (preferably 2–3 different colors)
  • 3D-printed button handle + small L-bracket (to attach the handle to the wooden stick)
  • Wooden dowel, 5–7 mm diameter, ideally 20–40 cm long

Easy Pinwheel Design for Kids

Get all the materials you need for this project in one package!

Includes:

Transparent colored A4 paper (preferably 2–3 different colors)Transparent colored A4 paper (preferably 2–3 different colors)
3D-printed button handle + small L-bracket (to attach the handle to the wooden stick)3D-printed button handle + small L-bracket (to attach the handle to the wooden stick)
Wooden dowel, 5–7 mm diameter, ideally 20–40 cm longWooden dowel, 5–7 mm diameter, ideally 20–40 cm long

All materials in one package!

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Let's Make It! Step-by-Step Guide

3D Moose
Step 1/6
Cut a 21×21 cm Square
Cut a 21×21 cm Square
  • Measure and mark a perfect square on your A4 sheet.
  • Cut along the lines with clean, even strokes.

The Science Behind It

As air flows over each blade, it exerts a force that creates torque around the central stem—transforming wind’s kinetic energy into rotational motion. The translucent paper’s lightweight nature ensures even a gentle breeze will set the pinwheel turning, while the 3D-printed bracket minimizes friction for silky-smooth spin.

Helpful Tips

  • Use 120–160 gsm paper: thin enough to catch the breeze, thick enough to hold shape.
  • Ensure the center hole is just large enough for the stem—too tight and it won’t spin; too loose and it wobbles.
  • Angle each blade at ~30° to optimize lift from the wind.
  • If outdoors, choose a sturdy dowel or bamboo skewer to withstand gusts.

Try These Variations!

  • 1Alternate Sizes: 15×15 cm or 25×25 cm squares for faster or slower spin.
  • 2Weighted Blades: Glue a tiny bead at one side of each blade to study asymmetrical balance.
  • 3Glow Pinwheel: Attach a micro-LED inside the button for nighttime illumination or create an Micro:Bit project to measure the speed.
  • 4Pattern Play: Combine two contrasting translucent sheets for a kaleidoscopic effect when spinning.

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