Build Your Own Wind Meter

Building a wind meter, or anemometer, is a fun and educational activity for kids. It’s a great way to learn about wind speed. Let’s measure the wind! 

Materials You’ll Need:

• • 4 small paper cups 
  • push pin 
  • new pencil with eraser on the end 
  • stiff, corrugated cardboard (enough to cut two, same-size strips, each 1.5” wide x 10” long) 
  • scissors 
  • marker 
  • ruler (for measuring) 
  • stapler 
  • modeling clay  
  • parent supervision 

Instructions:

• • Color the entire outside of one paper cup with the marker.
    
  • With parental supervision, cut out two same-size strips from the cardboard (1.5” wide x 10” long) 
    
  • Staple the two pieces of cardboard together in the center so they form an X. 
  • Staple each paper cup (laying on their sides) to the ends of the cardboard X, making sure the cups all face the same direction.   
  • Create the base: Flip the cardboard X over, so the cups are on the bottom. With parental supervision, push the pushpin through the center of the carboard X and into the eraser of the pencil. Make sure the cups can spin freely. 
  • Test it out! Take your anemometer outside on a windy day and watch it spin. You can count the number of times the colored cup passes a fixed point in a minute to estimate wind speed. The faster it spins, the stronger the wind! 
  • You can hold your anemometer, or you can create a base to hold it, by using an old plastic container & some clay in it to hold the pencil for you.

Remember:

Be very careful when cutting the cardboard and when using the pushpin. Ask an adult for help!

Now you’re a wind scientist!