Windmill Working Model You Can Get Your Head Around

Learning how to make a windmill is no easy feat, but with our helpful tips, instructions and guidance you and your kids will be on your way in no time.

A homemade windmill model is definitely a show stopper in any situation, and perfect for your young budding scientists and engineers. It's an amazing project to get stuck into, and something that all the family can get involved with too.

Windmills are amazing assets to the renewables industry and do incredible work in helping the country to become as sustainable and green in their energy use as possible. For those of you interested in a bit more of the science behind it, a windmill, or a wind turbine which are more commonly seen today, help generate kinetic energy and therefore electricity by harnessing the wind through rotation. The wind power causes the turbine blades to rotate which transforms mechanical power to electrical energy which can then be used for everything that uses electricity you have in your house! This is often done through powering a motor or generator. Windmills are also wheel and axle machines. The science behind this is that through the wind the wheel rotates by catching it. And voila we have electricity!

For those less interested in the science, the history of the windmill is also fascinating. The first windmill was used in 1st century Greece. The Ancient Greeks are recorded to have used them to build structures, lift materials, transport water and crush and process food. Now, this has progressed into generating electronic life through turbine blades. The evolution of the windmill demonstrates great innovation and is something your kids might be able to add to the school science project as they explain their creations.

They're not as difficult to make as you may think, and with our simple to follow instructions and guidelines, you'll have the model and school science project made in no time.

-Cardboard

-Printer paper

-Straws

-String

-Paperclips

-Sticky Tape

-Scissors

-Glue

-Wooden skewers

-Hole punch

-Decorations of your choice!

Cut out a square from the cardboard and paper.

Draw and place an X from the corners of each.

Place a hole in the middle of the paper so the straw can fit through it.

Cut along the lines, but stop half an inch from the hole.

Fold each corner down near the centre of the paper and glue it down. This will make your blades.

Place a straw through the middle and this will be the axis.

Use and cut one wooden skewer through the straw.

Sticky tape the end of the string to the straw. Tie the other end of the string to a paperclip.

Blow through and see what happens!

The string will end up winding around the length of the straw to lift the paperclip. For extra strong blades use extra strong paper.

The folded paper blades will hold your breath as you blow into it and rotate it on its axis. It will use your breath to make it twist up and lift the clip.

Using a very similar method to the one above you and your kids can have great fun with a new project and also make a waterwheel. This is bound to win any science project or creative project for sure!

-Thread Spool

-2 Flashcards

-2 Litre Plastic Bottle

-Pencil

-Tape

-String

-Paperclip

-Glue

Cut the top off the bottle

Pierce 2 slits about 2.5 inches long on the top edge parallel to each other.

Create 4 holes near the bottom a 1/4 inch wide.

Cut the flashcards so that they are the length of the thread spool.

Make a small fold on the sides of the flashcards to glue the blades down and ensure your project is secure.

Place a pencil through the hole in the spool.

Tie one end of the string to the clip and glue the other end to the pencil.

Rest each end in the slits.

Put your waterwheel under a tap so it pours over the spool.

Turn on the tap and see the results of what you've made for your science project!

This is such a super fun project, especially the results at the end! See as you turn on the tap, as the water will pour and land on the wheel, making it rotate and as a result lifting the clip! You've then made your very own wheel mechanism just like the Ancient Greeks did!