Tech: A cardboard wind vane

This wind vane hangs by its balance point, which is toward the front, thanks to the weights attached to the front end. When the wind blows, it finds more surface behind the balance point, so the tail of the arrow is away from the wind. The arrow points to where the wind is coming from, not to where it is going.

1 Draw an arrow  on the cardboard. 2 Tape a coin to each side of the arrow head.

3        Use a pin to find the balance point where the arrow hangs level, by pushing the pin through and trying to find the right place. 4        Make the pinhole larger and tie the cotton thread through it.

This is my favourite, and it’s in two other books of mine.

When you hang this, it points to the direction the wind is coming from, but if you walk around with it in front of you, it will always point in the direction you are going. Small children (like me!) love this. Younger readers can make one and let toddlers play with it, but ask an adult first if they are worried about the player possibly swallowing and/or choking on the coin.

The balance point for weight is towards the front of the arrow, because of the washer (or coin) taped to the front. The balance point of the arrow’s area for the wind to push against is further back, so the tail will always swing away from the wind, and the arrow will point into the wind. Why is it called technology? Play with that…

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