Build a Magical Wind Tower!✨

Have you ever wished you could capture the wind inside a tower and study its magic?
Engineers do something very similar! They use special tools called wind tunnels to learn how air moves around airplanes, rockets, race cars, and even buildings.
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In this enchanting STEM activity, you'll build your own wind tunnel and discover how invisible forces can make objects float, spin, soar, and dance through the air!

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Supplies

• Floor fan
• Large plastic sheet
• 3 embroidery hoops (our example uses 14-inch diameter hoops)
• 4 large clothespins 
• Optional: tulle or mesh fabric for additional fan protection
• Things to test in your wind tunnel, like scarves, pom poms, pipe cleaners, paper airplanes, tissue paper, or feathers

Tools

• Measuring tape or ruler
• Permanent marker
• Scissors

Step 1: Measure Your Plastic Sheet
To create your wind (tunnel) tower, you'll first need to determine how long your plastic sheet should be. The length of the sheet should match the circumference of your embroidery hoops, so it goes all the way around the hoops. The formula for circumference is: Circumference = π × Diameter, where π (called pi) is equal to approximately 3.14.

For our example:

• Diameter = 14 inches
• Circumference = 3.14 × 14
• Circumference ≈ 44 inches

Using your measuring tape, measure approximately 44 inches across your plastic sheet.
Use a permanent marker to draw a straight line and carefully cut along that line.
The height of your plastic sheet will become the height of your wind tunnel.

Step 2: Create Your Wind Tunnel Tower
Roll the plastic sheet into a cylinder shape. Place one embroidery hoop at the top of the cylinder. Place the second embroidery hoop at the middle of the cylinder. Place the third embroidery hoop at the bottom of the cylinder. Each hoop should hold the plastic between its inner and outer rings. These hoops act like the structure of a castle tower, helping your wind tunnel keep its shape!

Step 3: Tighten the Hoops
Twist the screws on all three embroidery hoops until they are secure. Check that the plastic is stretched evenly and that the tower stands nicely without collapsing inward. Your magical wind tower is really beginning to take shape!

Step 4: Add the Tower's Feet
Clip the 4 large clothespins evenly around the bottom embroidery hoop. These clothespins act like sturdy table legs, creating a gap between the fan and the bottom of the wind tunnel. This opening will allow you to place test objects into the airflow when you finish building your tower! 

Step 5: Prepare the Wind Source
Place your floor fan on a stable surface (preferably the ground). Tilt the fan so it blows straight upward, and then lock it into position.

Optional Safety Step
If you have curious little engineers who may want to touch the fan, you can cover the fan with tulle or mesh fabric before attaching the wind tunnel. This extra layer helps create a safer testing environment while still allowing plenty of airflow. 

Whether you choose to cover your fan with mesh or not, adult supervision is strongly recommended when playing with the wind tower!

Step 6: Connect the Wind Tunnel
Place your wind tunnel on top of the fan. If the clothespin feet fit into the openings of your fan's protective cover (if you use the supplies linked above they will!), gently press one side of the clothespin into an opening on the fan. You may need to adjust the clothespin spacing a little bit so they line up better with the fan's holes.

If your fan has a different design, you can balance the tower on top of the fan and use twine or pipe cleaners to tie the clothes pins securely to the fan. Make sure everything feels stable before turning on the fan.

And now you're ready to experiment and play!

For Extra Science: Before You Begin, Make a Hypothesis
Every great scientist and engineer begins with a question! A hypothesis is an educated prediction about what you think will happen and why.

Try asking:

• Which object will float the longest?
• Which object will spin the fastest?
• Which paper airplane design will soar the highest?
• Will a pom-pom or a scarf stay in the air longer?

Write down your prediction before you begin. Then you'll get to see if your engineering instincts were correct!

Step 7: Let the Magic Begin!
Turn on the fan. Carefully place lightweight objects into the opening between the clothespin feet at the bottom of the tower. Watch closely! You can even draw pictures of what is happening, just like scientists observe and collect data when they conduct experiments.

You may see objects:

• Float like enchanted feathers
• Spin like dancing fairies
• Soar upward
• Bounce through the tunnel
• Hover in place
• Twirl and tumble through the air
• Just stay in your hand and not go anywhere

Every object will tell a different story about how air moves and how gravity (the force that pulls us down towards the early) works. Try with different materials, different fan speeds, different weights and shapes, and most importantly have fun!!

Related Science Vocabulary
Aerodynamics: Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around objects.
Lift: Lift is the force that can push an object upward and help it stay in the air.
Gravity: Gravity pulls objects back toward Earth.
Scientific Method: The scientific method is how scientists think. It starts with setting a hypothesis, includes designing an experiment, observing and collecting data, and then analyzing the data to see if your hypothesis was right or wrong!
Variables: A variable is something that can change during an experiment. By changing only one variable at a time (like the size of a pom pom or the wind speed of the fan), scientists can better understand what caused a result.

Reflection Questions for STEM Princesses

• Which object floated the longest?
• Which object surprised you?
• Did your results match your hypothesis?
• What design changes improved performance?
• What would you test next?

Remember: there are no failed experiments—only discoveries!

Notes for Parents and Educators
This activity encourages curiosity, creativity, observation, and critical thinking.

• For younger learners, focus on predictions, observations, and describing what they see.
• For older learners, encourage recording data, comparing results, measuring performance, and redesigning objects to improve them.

The goal isn't to find a perfect answer! The goal is to help future innovators discover that engineers and scientists learn by testing ideas and exploring the world around them.

If you give this activity a try at home, tag us on social media @theprincessprogramstem so we can see the magic you create!! ✨ ​