What’s a pinwheel?

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Pinwheels are a classic children’s toy made by attaching folded paper to a stick. They can be made easily and cheaply, and provide simple fun for children. Instructions can be found online or in craft books. Toy makers have also created variations using different materials and designs.

A pinwheel is a classic children’s toy that looks like a small wheel attached to a handle. The easiest way to make them is to attach a folded piece of paper to the end of a stick. When the contraption is held in the wind, the folded paper will spin. Nowadays, pinwheels come in a variety of color, size, and material combinations. Retailers sell them at very affordable prices and they are often bought as party favors or appear on fashion accessories.

Children are often taught how to make a pinwheel in school, but instructions can also be found in craft books and on the Internet. Requires only minutes and simple materials to create, making them an ideal recreational project. Once completed, the pinwheel can provide simple and peaceful fun for children. The pinwheel can be blown or held in the wind to spin.

The materials needed to assemble a simple pinwheel include a pin, a piece of square construction paper, a pair of scissors, and something for a handle. It can be a straw or a stick through which a pin can pierce. Then follow the instructions below:
1. Flatten the square piece of cardstock flat on a surface and draw a diagonal line from each corner to the opposite corner.

2. Mark the intersection of these two lines in the center of the square and punch a small hole through it.

3. Cut along each line stopping about an inch from the hole in the center of the square.

4. Make a small hole in the upper left corner of each of the four flaps. Make sure there are no two holes next to each other.

5. Take the punched corner flaps and carefully curve them towards the center hole without folding. Secure them with the pin.

6. Once all four flaps have been held by the pin, lift the paper without unfolding the flaps. Finally, push the tip of the pin into the handle (straw, wand, etc).

In addition to using paper for the pinwheel material, toy makers have found ways to construct blades from other materials such as metallic foils and clear plastic, usually polycarbonate. These variations make the pinwheel lighter and sturdier, respectively. Also, the pinwheel blades can be treated to have a holographic or translucent design. Instead of the portable prototype, some toy makers have also pushed the envelope in making giant pinwheels, which can be used for outdoor décor.




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