Amy Oyler - Spectacular Science for Smart Kids: Clever Experiments and Stem Activities for Hours of Screen-Free Fun at Home

30+ MINUTES

Everyone loves the classic fun of a spinning pinwheel, but did you know you can make one of your own and spin it with the power of the sun? With this experiment, youll build a tower of solar energy, and use that instead of your breath to power your very own pinwheel! All you need are some aluminum cans, a stack of books, and some paper, and youre on your way to a spinning adventure in physics!

3 aluminum cans

Can opener

Masking tape

Large paper clip

Thumbtack

Ruler

Paper

Scissors

Pencil

Stack of books

1. Remove both ends from all the aluminum cans with a can opener. Then build a tower by stacking them on top of each other and taping them into place. Use masking tape to create a seal around each can where it meets the next one in the tower.
2. Straighten the paper clip and bend it into an arch. Tape the ends to each side of the top of the aluminum can tower so that it arches across the opening in your tower.
3. Tape the thumbtack to the center of the paper clip so that the sharp end is pointing straight up.
4. Use your ruler to draw a 6 square on your piece of paper, then cut it out. Make a pinwheel by making a diagonal cut from each corner to the center of the paper, stopping about before the center.
5. Once you have made four cuts from the corners of your square, take the right side of each cut, and fold it into the center. Tape the meeting points in the center to create your pinwheel.
6. Create two 2 stacks of books in a sunny spot of your home or outside. Place the book stacks 1 apart, and place your aluminum can tower on the stacks so that the can sits across the gap.
7. Balance your paper pinwheel on the point of the thumbtack. Once its balanced, sit back and watch it spin!

The sun releases energy that we can see as light and feel as heat. This energy powers everything on Earth. We can harness this energy by collecting it in battery cells, and use it to power our homes. In this experiment, the aluminum cans harness the suns energy. The heat from the sun collects at the bottom of the can. and rises to the top. As this energy moves through the can, it pushes your pinwheel, spinning it!

10 MINUTES OR LESS

You know you can take a photograph with a camera or a smartphone, but did you know you could create a photograph with the sun and a piece of paper? With solar imprint paper, you can create an image using the ultraviolet rays from the sun and create your own work of art with solar photography! All you need is some solar imprint paper (found online or in the science and education section of your local toy store), some natural materials, and a sunny day.

Solar imprint paper

Leaves, feathers, or toys

Plastic wrap (optional)

Paper towels

1. Gather natural materials that will lie flat and have interesting shapes. Leaves, feathers, and flowers work well for this activity.
2. Carefully remove one of the sheets of solar imprint paper. Create a natural mosaic with your materials by placing them to form a picture on your paper.