jalex

Fish Weather Vane

Seeing which way the wind blows is a breeze with this homemade weather station.

Materials
• 2 large clean foam meat trays
• Scissors
• Nail and hammer
• 3 corks
• Permanent markers
• 2-foot-long wooden dowel with a 1/8-inch diameter
• 6 beads with 5/8-inch holes
• Plastic drinking straw
• Duct tape
• Clay flowerpot with a drainage hole in the bottom


Step 1:
From one of the meat trays, cut a 1-inch circle to use as a washer and two 1 1/2-inch-wide strips for direction markers. Label the ends of one strip N and S and the ends of the other E and W. (Note: A simpler option for direction markers is to print the letters on the pot.)

Step 2:
Use the nail and hammer to gently tap a hole through the centers of the foam washer, direction markers and corks.

Step 3:
From the second foam tray, cut out a large fish and color it on both sides. Keep in mind that the fish's mouth (the pointing end) must be narrower than the tail for the weather vane to work properly.

Step 4:
Tape the drinking straw vertically onto the fish.

Step 5:
Plug the hole in the flowerpot with a cork (you may have to trim it). Fit the end of the dowel into the cork.

Step 6:
Thread on one bead, a cork, the direction markers, two beads, and the foam washer; in that order. Slide the straw onto the dowel and top with another cork and the remaining beads.

Step 7:
Set the finished weather vane on a deck or fence post, orienting the direction markers with true north, south, east and west.




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