A Five-Wheeled Spinning Ferris Wheel

Five-wheeled Ferris Wheel

This is the last Ferris Wheel in the series that I am going to design. Initially I was going to make just four wheels and then I decided that it was not aesthetically pleasing to the eye so I made a five-wheeled Ferris Wheel.  I think it turned out marvelously.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYYzhrUmlNYTJteXc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-3XXt_ZqyoCu2HtQwnvDiqw

Here is the .Studio file. I used cardstock.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYVGE4bkJJLTFuSkU/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-bokqqMKhJzmHBcIrW1Zm1w

Use the instructions from a previous post to assembly this model.
http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2014/07/whats-more-exciting-than-paper-ferris.html
In addition, a center stabilizer is included in this model.  This is optional because I thought its addition would make a studier model. I did not include the instructions because it is a simple cylinder shape that is glued together. Please note, the wheels need to be aligned in the center so that they turn properly, so be careful when gluing.

Of course, Marley wants to be in the picture.

Rotational Symmetry Explained Using 5 Different Types of Pinwheels

I created five different types of pinwheels to explain the concept of rotational symmetry. Rotational symmetry is when a figure is rotated around a central point and the angle of rotation is noted when the object looks the same as the original figure. For example, a square has 90 degree rotational symmetry because it looks that same at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees and at 360 degrees. The order of rotational symmetry of  a square is 4 because it looks the same 4 times in one rotation around a central point.

Here is the PDF of the pinwheels.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYT1duczNleEM4SUU/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-lnVJ_9nV-0hufY1t_eeDQA

Here is the .Studio file of the pinwheels.  I would recommend using the thinnest material for the blades and the strongest paper that won't tear easily for the rest of the pinwheel.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYMjAtRWlyZFliT2M/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-7prVUoKPCY4Kb9LGO6B_2w

 Paper is not the best material to make the axles of these pinwheels. My fourth grade class made them and many of the pinwheels broke at the joint. I think a better choice would be to make a class set, have each student hold a pinwheel and move the pinwheel while sitting at their desk. My students wanted to touch the blades and move them with their hands while running around the room.  These actions puts too much pressure on the fragile paper joints.

To Make the Axles. Glue into a tube.

Insert into the hole.

Glue as shown above.  Repeat for the other axle.

There are two axles.  One tube is larger than the other tube.

Using the larger axle, insert into the center of the pinwheel by folding one side of the pinwheel blade.  Continue with the other pinwheel blades until it looks like the above figure.

Add the starburst figure as shown above.

Glue the tabs down as shown above.

Insert the smallest axle into the largest axle and add the circle.

Glue the circle down as shown.

Add the final round circle.

Turn the pinwheel over. Glue and bend the paper as shown.

 Insert a wooden skewer around the paper and allow it to dry before trying to move the pinwheel.

 

Repeat the above instructions for all of the different types of pinwheels.

 

A PDF that explains rotational symmetry.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYQWtLRk5UUGc3QTA/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-PawXO00eEHwHE5gUk8RVUg

Here is an area of a pinwheel challenge PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYbDdfeFFJdHJzZGM/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-fA_K0Dtj26KX3RiG0UJgNA



A Dutch Boy and Girl Paper Dolls

Dutch Paper Boy and Girl

In continuing my series of "It's a Small World Paper Dolls",  I made a Dutch paper boy and girl. The Dutch girl is holding tulips which have a fascinating history. Tulips were originally cultivated in the Ottoman Empire (present day Turkey).  They were imported into Holland in the sixteenth century. Carolus Clusius wrote the first major book on tulips in 1592.  They became so popular that his garden was raided and bulbs stolen on a regular basis. In the mid-seventeenth century, tulips were so popular that they created the first economic bubble, known as "Tulip Mania" (tulipomania). As people bought up bulbs they became so expensive that they were used as money until the market in them crashed.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYaWwzclRtandZWlU/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-YR1QS9PWe9THlA2Izr1DLQ

Here is the .Studio file. 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYd2pTSTZWX3dsd3M/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-iS5yZwvP1APC9Ytr5Gj0Dw

A Hidden Message Card

A hidden message card is a fun way to send a greeting. You pull on a tab and the shutters move to reveal a message. This design is very versatile and it can be used to make a pop-up book.

 

Shutters are closed.

 



Shutters are open to reveal a message.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYY3NJTFg3aWl0OWs/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-1-V9xZQBUGhSzAQIvUu27Q

Here is the .Studio file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYU1FLTzdWRUtPalE/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-uVW3hsZ6T4yz1NAShzwMew

 Thread the largest tab through the back as shown above.

 Thread the next size tab.

 Thread the next smaller tab.

 Glue the tabs together as shown

 Fold over the edges and apply glue.

 Leave one tab out.

 Attach the other side of the card.

 Completed shutter card.

 Inside view.

Card is in the open position. You can add a message here by gluing the four small rectangles onto each of the individual sections. As shown below.

 



 



An assortment of sizes. 

This can be done by resizing the image using your Silhouette software.



What's More Exciting than a Paper Ferris Wheel?

Double Ferris Wheel

 

A double paper Ferris wheel!!! I got this idea from my Fifth grade students on the last day of school.  They created animated Ferris wheels using Sketchpad. It was a fun and enriching activity. Here is a video  of one of the Ferris wheels. I love how the student put a stick figure in the scene and added a moving balloon...how clever!   

 

Sketchpad Animated Ferris Wheel

My Version of the Double Ferris wheel

Here is the PDF.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYWERCTGlsWS1rbUk/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-EamH98IFnEpTsyoRszAVuA

Here is the .Studio file. I used cardstock and chipboard.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYU1JSdnA4bmx1NGM/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-8W56KEC8XaQbR7hhnUor-A

Make the center axle by adding the cardstock to both sides and the corresponding yellow pieces.



Insert the tab into the sandwiched layers so that it does not show.





Slide the Center Axle through the center hole as shown.

Apply glue and put pressure on each of the little tabs so that the tabs adhere to the paper.

Make the box bottom and top.





Make the crossbeams by sandwiching the pieces together.

A

Add glue to the crossbeam as shown on the right.

Insert the crossbeam into the top slit of the box.  Make sure the bottom is aligned correctly. Repeat for the other side.

Make the wheels by gluing its axle and aligning the holes on both sides of the wheel.

Make the seats as shown above.

Make the rod and glue together, slide on the seat and the spacers as shown onto the rod. Repeat for the rest of the seats. Glue each seat assembly to the wheel.  It should look like the wheel below when finished.

The small stars are glued on the outer wheel on each side.  Please notice how the outer red axle is being threaded through. (These directions will be repeated for the second wheel.)

 The red wheel is glued to the red axle as shown on both sides.

 I put some glue on the underside of the red wheel because I did not like the red wheel spinning around.  This is a matter of preference.  You do not have to do this step.

Glue on the blue circle to both sides.

Glue on the yellow circle on both sides.

And then glue the star on both sides. Repeat the above directions for the second wheel. 

Make the center axle by gluing one side to the red wheel.

Thread it through the crossbeams as shown.

Glue the axle to the red wheel as shown.

Glue on the blue and yellow circles to the center axle.  Add the star. Repeat for the other side. Add the embellishments to the box.

 

 Please see my other Ferris wheel post for more detailed instructions as the Ferris wheels are very similar in construction. http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-paper-ferris-wheel-that-really-spins.html

I love my double Ferris wheel because it is so well balanced.  It can stay in any position without moving.

Ferris Wheels are so much fun!