Windmills

Holland is well known for its many water canals and windmills. Traditionally, windmills were built to pump water from the land into the canals. In Holland in the wintertime, you can often see ice skaters skating to town on frozen canals.

Here are some instructions on making a simple paper windmill:

  1. Crease a paper square across the diagonals.
  2. Cut along the creases within about 2cms of the center.
  3. Fold the loose corners into the center, but do not crease.
  4. Secure the paper (not too tightly) through all four corners and the center of the paper, to a straw.
  5. Cover the end of the pin with Blu-Tack, Plasticine, or something similar (so that it covers up the sharp point)
  6. Experiment with ways of making the windmill spin - running, blowing, holding it near a source of heat (not a naked flame).
Contributed by:
Liz Watts
Tres Condados Girl Scout Council, California, USA
Ex Guider and Adviser, UK

Do you have any other ideas for activities? Contact The GuideZone Team with your comments or suggestions!

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This page last updated September 24th, 1999