The Orkney Islands are located just to the northeast off the mainland of Scotland. One of the most interesting things about the Orkney Islands is the weather, particularly the wind.
wind speed for an average summer 8 - 18 MPH
wind speed for an average winter 25 - 45 MPH
occasionally they receive gale bursts of over 90 MPH
That's a lot of wind! Just to give you a comparison, here in Houston, Texas, our average wind speed for the entire year is only 6 - 9 MPH.
Orkney Islands
In tribute to the Scottish heritage of the Orkney Islands and their mighty winds, let's make a Scottish tartan pinwheel.
Supplies:
6 x 6 inch square of scrapbook paper (one side white, one side a solid color)
thumbtack
washi tape (colorful paper tape)
pencil
markers
Directions:
Wrap a small piece of washi tape over the top of your thumbtack and press to the back.
Wrap a pencil with washi tape.
On the white side of your paper, make a tartan pattern following the numbered pictures.
1. Thin red vertical lines
2. Thick green vertical lines
3. Two thin red horizontal lines close together
4. Medium lime green horizontal lines
5. Thick red horizontal lines
Draw an x from corner to corner on the colored side of your paper square.
Cut each line of the x until you are about 1/2 inch from the middle of the x.
Fold the right corner of each edge into the center making sure the pieces overlap each other a little.
Insert the thumbtack into the center of all the overlapped corners.
Press the pinwheel into the eraser of your pencil leaving a little space between the eraser and the back of the pinwheel so that it will be able to spin.
Go find some wind (or make your own) and have some pinwheel fun!
Options:
I wanted the children to make their own tartan pattern, but to save time buy tartan scrapbook paper.
Extra Activity:
Color the Scottish flag.
