Making an Anemometer

Materials

  • 4 small paper cups
  • tape
  • scissors
  • 4 plastic drinking straws
  • straight pin
  • pencil with a new eraser
  • stapler
Procedure
  • Arrange four plastic drinking straws to form a cross and tape them together at the center. 
  • Staple the top side  of one drinking cup, such as the small paper Dixie  cups designed for  bathroom dispensers, to the end of each straw, so the open ends of the cups all face the same direction. 
  • Push a straight pin through the center of the straws into an eraser on the end of a pencil. This provides the axle. 
  • Blow on the anemometer or turn an electric fan on low to make sure that it spins easily.

Below are photographs of students making their anemometers. These fourth graders are from Mrs. Clarizio's class, School #10, Garfield, New Jersey.

Click on the thumbnail for enlargement.