Make a Wind Streamer
The wind streamer makes it
possible to tell which direction the wind is blowing. It acts
like a wind vane.
Materials
- paper plate
- permanent marker
- scissors
- crepe paper
- crayons
- paste or tape
- a printed copy of Windman, below
- windy day
To print this page

- PLACE the mouse
pointer on the File menu at the top of the screen.
- CLICK and HOLD
the mouse button down while DRAGGING the pointer to Print.
- RELEASE the
mouse button. The print dialog box is displayed.
- PRESS RETURN.
The Windman will begin to print.
Preparation
- CUT OUT the Windman along the black circle.
- COLOR the Windman if desired.
- DRAW a large, straight cross through the
center of the bottom side of the plate.
- CUT a 2.5 cm (1 inch) square at each of the
four ends of the cross, 1.5 cm from the edge of the plate.
- CUT eight crepe paper streamers 1 meter each
in length.
- PLACE two streamers together and THREAD them
through one square hole.
- TIE them to the edge of the plate.
- REPEAT steps 6 and 7 until all 4 square holes
have streamers tied to them.
- WRITE the capital letters N,E,S,W, next to
each hole.
- PASTE or TAPE your colored Windman at the
middle of your wind streamer, over the cross. Remember: All of
your work is on the BOTTOM flat side of the plate.
Using your wind streamer
- Hold your wind streamer in front of you,
with your thumb on top, near the letter "S". Make sure
your arm is straight out and the plate is parallel to the ground.
- Turn so the "N" on your WINDSTREAMER
is pointing to the North.
- Watch the wind go to work.
- The direction of the wind is determined by
which way the crepe paper blows. If the crepe paper blows out
to the south, the wind is blowing from the north. Use
the same principle for all other directions.
Is today a windy day? Use your
new wind streamer to determine in which direction the wind is
blowing.

Science Learning Network / Inquiry
Resources
©2000 Miami Museum of Science
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