The poinsettia pinwheel template is the fourth in a series of Christmas STEM challenges I am sharing this year. The first is a wreath made with quadrilaterals. The second features a Christmas tree tessellation. The third activity looks at using old Christmas cards to make tangrams. Each set has a printable set that you can download for free.
Building Background
Your children may not know much about the poinsettia plant. Below you will find several children’s books that feature poinsettias.
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Getting Poinsettia Pinwheel Template
The challenge sets are in a PDF. When you download one or both of them, you will need to open them with a PDF reader. Acrobat Reader is a popular reader that you can download to use. You probably have it on your computer already.
Exploring the Poinsettia Pinwheel STEM Challenge
Gathering the Materials
The challenge requires the following:
- Red card stock
- Hole Punch
- Pins with Balls on the Top
- Pony Beads
- Pencils
Printing out the Poinsettia Pinwheel Template
While the project works out best with thick paper or card stock, you could use construction or printer paper.
Constructing a Poinsettia Pinwheel
- Cut out the pinwheel shape.
- Use a hole punch or pin to place a hole in each of the pointed ends The hole punch will create large holes that help the pinwheel spin. It will spin with just the pin holes.
- Curl each point to the center of the pinwheel.
- Glue a yellow circle in the center of the pinwheel. You can add more yellow circles if you like.
- Push a pin through the center of the pinwheel to hold all of the points in place.
6. Place a bead on the pin behind the pinwheel. Push the pointed end of the pin through the eraser end of a pencil.
7. Then bend the pin and tape it down.
More STEM Activities to Explore
How to Make Snow with Cornstarch
Creating a Snowboarding Halfpipe
Elf on the Shelf STEM Activity
