Weather vane

Weather vanes help measure the direction the wind is blowing in. Challenge a friend to make their own weather vane and compare wind patterns in different parts of Calgary!

Supplies

  • 2 paper plates
  • Cardstock or thick paper
  • Ruler
  • Drinking straw
  • Clay
  • Pencil with eraser end
  • Sewing pin
  • Scissors
  • Glue

Directions

Step one

Turn one paper plate upside down and label the different directions you might see on a compass ( North, East, South, west). Decorate it with what makes Calgary weather so special to you!

Step two

Cut an arrow point and arrow tail out of cardstock, each about 2 inches long. Make slits at each end of the straw and slide the arrow point in one end and the arrow tail in the other end.

Step three

Insert a pin through the middle of your straw into the eraser of the pencil. Poke the pencil through the middle of the plate with the decorated side facing the sky.

Step four

Take the second paper plate (regular side up) and put glue along the edges. Push the pointy side of the pencil into modelling clay as a base. Put the clay in the middle of the second plate. Press the plate edges together and allow to dry.

How to use your weather vane

Put your weather vane outside in an area where you might feel the wind. Use a compass (or compass phone app) to make sure your weather vane is pointing north.

When the wind is blowing, observe which direction the arrow points. The arrow will point in the direction the wind is blowing from.

Try taking your weather vane to another location. Where do you think it will be windier? Less windy?

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