🌬️ Wind Vane & Weather Station
Build a wind direction indicator from cardboard and a straw. Track weather patterns for 7 days — zero cost, integrates with Geography and Science. SBA rubric included.
What is a wind vane and why build one?
A wind vane (or weather vane) is an instrument that shows the direction from which the wind is blowing. Knowing wind direction helps farmers plan planting, pilots navigate, and meteorologists predict weather. In this project, you'll build a functional wind vane from recycled cardboard, a straw, and a pencil — then record wind direction every day for one week. This project connects to CBC Pre-Technical Strand 2: Tools and Instruments and integrates with Geography (weather) and Science (air movement).
Materials needed (all free or recycled)
- 📦 Corrugated cardboard (from an old box) — for arrow and tail
- 🥤 Plastic drinking straw (or a straight twig)
- ✏️ New pencil with eraser (or a straight stick, about 15cm long)
- 📍 Pin or thin nail (to act as pivot — ask adult for help)
- 🧷 Clay or plasticine (or a bottle cap + soil) — to hold the pencil upright
- 📏 Ruler, scissors, marker pen
- 🧭 Compass (or phone compass app) — to mark North direction
- 📓 Notebook for recording daily observations
- 📸 Phone/camera for evidence photos
💰 Total cost: 0 KES (all items are household waste or free). No compass? Use sunrise (East) and sunset (West) to find directions.
Step-by-step build guide
Follow these steps to build your wind vane. Take photos at each stage for your SBA portfolio.
Cut the arrow and tail from cardboard
On cardboard, draw an arrow shape: a triangle for the head (point), a rectangle for the shaft, and a larger triangle for the tail. The tail should be roughly twice the area of the arrow head. Cut it out carefully. Total length: about 15–20cm.
Attach arrow to the straw
Slide the straw through the center of the cardboard arrow (pierce two small slits). The arrow head should be at one end of the straw, the tail at the other. Use a small piece of tape or a dab of glue to fix them in place. Ensure the arrow can spin freely around its balance point.
Find the balance point
Place the straw across your finger. Slide it left or right until it balances perfectly. Mark that exact center point — that's where the pivot will go. This is critical for sensitive wind response.
Make the pivot and mount
Push the pin or thin nail through the balance point on the straw, then push the pin into the eraser of the pencil. The straw should spin freely on the pin. If using a stick, push the pin into the top. Place the pencil upright in clay (or bottle cap filled with soil) so it stands vertically.
Mark the 8 cardinal directions
Use a compass to find North. On a piece of paper or directly on the ground around the base, mark N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Align your wind vane so the "N" points to true North. Your arrow will now show wind direction.
Test and record for 7 days
Place your wind vane outdoors in an open area (not blocked by buildings or trees). At the same time each day (e.g., 4:00 PM), observe which direction the arrow points. Record wind direction, estimated wind strength (calm, light breeze, strong), and any weather notes (cloudy, rainy).
📋 7-Day Wind & Weather Log
Copy this table into your notebook or print it. Record observations for one full week. Take a photo of your completed log for SBA evidence.
| Day | Date | Time | Wind Direction | Wind Strength | Weather Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 2 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 3 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 4 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 5 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 6 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 7 | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
📊 KNEC SBA Rubric – Wind Vane Project
Your teacher will assess using this rubric. Maximum score: 20 points.
| Criteria | Exceeds (5) | Meets (4) | Approaching (3) | Below (2-1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design & construction | Sturdy, spins freely, accurate balance, neat finish | Spins with minor friction, good balance | Spins but sticky, balance off | Does not spin or falls apart |
| Compass & direction setup | All 8 directions marked accurately, aligned with true North | 4 cardinal directions marked, minor alignment error | Directions marked but not aligned | No direction marks |
| Data collection (7 days) | 7 full days, consistent time, detailed notes + photo of log | 5-6 days recorded, basic notes | 3-4 days, missing details | Less than 3 days or no log |
| Analysis & conclusion | Identifies prevailing wind, explains pattern, links to local geography | Identifies most common direction, brief explanation | Lists data but no analysis | No conclusion written |
Project Gallery – add your own images
Use these slots to document your wind vane construction and outdoor setup.
🚀 Extension challenge (bonus marks)
Build a second weather instrument: a simple anemometer (wind speed indicator) using 4 paper cups and a stick. Record both wind direction and relative speed (slow, medium, fast) for 7 days. Draw a graph comparing wind speed to direction. Are stronger winds more common from a particular direction?
📄 Need this offline?
Print or save as PDF to use without internet — perfect for field observations where there's no network.