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            • ELA / Science Connection
                 A weather vane is a simple invention that shows us in what direction the wind is blowing.  The front tip of the vane is smaller and points in the direction the wind is blowing.  The back end is wider, so it catches the wind.  The wind turns the vane around until  it blows equally on either side of the wide back end.  When this happens, the smaller tip on the front points in the direction that the wind comes from.
               
              Make A Weather Vane
               
              You need:
              • a drinking straw
              • scissors
              • a piece of cardboard about 3" by 4" 
              • a pin with a big head
              • a pencil with an eraser  
               
              Steps:
              1. Cut a small triangle out of the cardboard.  Then cut a bigger triangle.  These will be the front and back end of the vane.
              2. With the scissors, cut a 1/2" long slit on each end of the straw.
              3. Slide the tip of the bigger triangle into one of the slits. 
              4. Slide the wide end of the smaller triangle into the other slit.
              5. Hold the straw horizontally with your thumb and index finger.  Find the point, near the middle, at which the straw doesn't tip forward or backward.  Have an adult push the pin through the straw at this point.
              6. Have the adult push the pin into the pencil's eraser.  Your weather vane is finished!    
               
                
Last Modified on February 16, 2018