Origami Pinwheel

TIME TO COMPLETE

30 min. to an hour

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

You will learn the basics of origami, an ancient and artful paper folding technique.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED?

Crafting Materials
Origami Paper
Other Materials
Upcycled / Recycled materials

STEP 1

Make Some Folds

Fold and unfold the square piece of paper in half diagonally so that it forms an X. Unfold everything.

STEP 2

Make More Folds!

Fold all four corners of the square to the center. Unfold everything.

STEP 3

Make Even More Folds!

Fold the square in half (not diagonally). Unfold everything. Orient your square so that the line you just created is horizontal.

STEP 4

You guessed it... more folds.

Fold the top and bottom edges of the paper to the horizontal line. Do not unfold this! Rotate your paper so that it is oriented vertically.

STEP 5

Almost Done Folding

Grab the corners at the top that meet in the center and pull them down and out until they meet the horizontal center of the paper. The folded paper should now resemble a house.

STEP 6

Repeat the Previous Step

Rotate the paper upside down and repeat the same fold that you just made. The folded paper should now resemble a hexagon.

STEP 7

Make the Last Folds!

Take the top left flap and fold it up towards the center. Take the bottom right flap and fold it down towards the center.

STEP 8

Put it All Together

Push the pointed end of the bamboo skewer into the cork. Center your pinwheel over the face of the cork and secure it by pushing the push pin through the center. Don't push it all the way in! Wiggle the pinwheel just a little bit to enlarge the hole and give it more room to spin.

STEP 9

Finished Pinwheel

Test your new pinwheel by blowing on it.

Please Note

Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Maker Media, Inc., disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.