Good Morning!!
There's something about windy days that make me smile a little bit. I'm from the panhandle of Texas, so I know a thing or two about wind storms. I use to play outside and watch the dirt storms roll in and the whole sky turn brown from the wind. Even worse was when it was a wild dirt storm with a thunderstorm in it. It would literally rain mud.
I love watching the way the trees move in the wind. Almost like they are waving to us. I was working at camp one summer and we were walking our kids to the pool. Along the road were some tress. I told the kids that they were alive and wanted us to wave at them and they would wave back. The kids being in disbelief told me that I was silly and no way that if you waved to a tree it would wave back. I told them to watch the group in front of us, they walked right by and the tree did nothing. As we started to walk by I waved and greeted the tree and the wind worked in my favor and the tree looked like it was waving back. The kids freaked out as something magical happen. For the rest of the summer the kids waved at the trees.
With it being a little windy today, I thought it would be amazing to do some crafts that go along with our wind today.
Wind Chime:
Wind Chimes can be a fun and beautiful addition to your porch. You don't need much, but use your imagination and get creative. Look around your house for objects that will make noise. You'll need some string to hang the objects. You can use beads, or paint some sticks from your yard if you don't have anything in your house. the sky is the limit. I went on a walk and saw some painted can hanging from some stings. It was so much fun and creative. Here is a great website that will help with ideas.
https://www.playideas.com/25-easy-breezy-wind-chime-crafts-for-kids/
Kites:
I love flying kites. I went to a festival once when I was little. There were so many amazing kites. Some were big and some were little. Lots of colors and designs. There are lots of fun ways that you can build your own kite with objects you have at home. You can use anything from tissue paper to cardboard. The kids can use their imaginations and create whatever they want. Theres so many fun designs thats out there. Heres a fun link that has lots of ideas. It's hard to pick just one design.
https://makingofamom.com/20100/
Paper Windmill:
You will need
Paper in 2 shades
Decorative stickers
Flat-ended map pin or push pin
Short length of thin dowelling (for stick)
Cut two 20cm squares of paper, one in each color. Place one sheet on top of the other. Matching edges all round, fold the paper in half diagonally and open out. Fold diagonally again, this time on the opposite diagonal and open out. Cut from one corner along the diagonal fold stopping around 3cm from the centre. Repeat along the remaining diagonal folds. Fold four alternate corner sections down to the centre of the paper, holding each section under your thumb at the centre as you work. Place a sticker centrally on the windmill so that it holds the four blades in position. Take a map pin or push pin and push it through the centre of the sticker and out the back of the windmill. Push the map pin into the top of the dowelling stick so that it firmly secures the windmill in place, but still allows the windmill to turn. You may need to tap gently home with a hammer.
Just like that you have an amazing windmill to put in your yard for others to enjoy. There are lots of other things you can do with the wind. Stand in the yard with bubbles and let the wind do the work. You could let the wind be in charge of pushing objects in a relay race. The sky is the limit. Whatever you decided have fun and enjoy yourself today. Make sure you tag us in our ERC Facebook page with your windy creations. Have a awesome day everyone!!
Tiffany
Program Supervisor
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