Patriotic Pinwheels

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In red, white, and blue, these are wonderful decorations for an Independence Day party. John Adams, a Founding Father and our second president, had strong ideas about celebrating our nation's freedom. Read his suggestions for honoring the struggle for freedom at: http://voices.yahoo.com/celebrate-independence-day-john-adams-way-3534575.html?cat=37.

OBJECTIVE
Cutting in straight lines. Folding paper. Learning about the concept of "center."

MATERIALS
Scissors, ruler, pencil, hole punch (preferably micro-size), colored card stock, brad or brass fastener, wooden dowel or skewer, and glue (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1)    Cut squares measuring exactly 6 x 6 inches (for the smaller pinwheels) and 8 x 8 inches (for the larger pinwheels).
2)    Mark a dot in the center of each square.
3)    Beginning at each corner of the square, cut a straight line toward the center dot to create four “flaps”. Stop cutting approximately half an inch from the dot (do not cut through the page).
4)    Punch a small hole in the right corner of each new flap and a hole in the center of the square where your pencil mark is.
5)    Moving clockwise, insert the hole of each corner flap onto your brad or brass fastener. Go through the hole in the center of your paper last, and open the brad once through the paper.
Optional:  Glue or tape the pinwheel to a wooden dowel or skewer.