DIY: Revolving Lantern | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Magic Spinning Lantern

Stem Activities

Ages: 9-12

Greater than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Create an amazing spinning lantern using items you might have lying around at home! Complete this project in just 9 simple steps and explore the invisible magic that makes the lantern spin!

Materials Needed

Two paper cups
Scissors
Paint
Palette
Lighter
Candle
Pencil
Paintbrush
Wooden stick
Ruler
Tape

A variety of craft and stationery items are laid out on a light wood-grain table. These include an upside-down white paper cup, a white flower-shaped paint palette, a small container of blue paint, a paintbrush with a blue handle and yellow bristles, a pencil with a blue textured grip, a long thin wooden dowel, a clear plastic ruler, a red lighter, three small tubes of white glue, a pair of black scissors, and a roll of orange masking tape. The arrangement suggests preparation for a craft project or DIY activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Take the paper cups and paint them in your favourite colours using the paintbrush and paint.

On a light-colored wooden surface, two hands are engaged in a painting activity. A left hand holds a small pink paper cup, tilted slightly, while a right hand applies orange paint to the cup's exterior using a paintbrush with a blue handle and yellow bristles. Another yellow paper cup sits upright in the background. The scene suggests a simple arts and crafts project.

Step 2

Once the cups are dry, take one cup and place it upside down. Using the ruler, measure and mark 1.5cm from both the top and bottom of the cup with a pencil. Then draw "L" shapes between these marks as shown in the diagram, making five "L" shapes at equal distances around the cup.

A bright yellow paper cup sits upright on a light wood-grain surface. Black lines and labels indicate measurements: 1.5cm from the top rim to a marked line and 1.5cm from that line to the bottom rim. This image appears to be demonstrating measurements for a craft or DIY project.

Step 3

Cut along the marked "L" shapes with scissors.

Two hands are shown cutting a bright yellow paper cup on a light wood-grain table. A left hand holds the cup while a right hand uses black scissors to make a vertical cut down the side. This image appears to depict a step in a craft or DIY project.

Step 4

Bend the five "L" shapes outward from the cup as shown.

Two hands manipulate a bright yellow paper cup on a light wood-grain surface. The cup has vertical cuts along its side, and the right hand is gently pulling back a triangular flap created by these cuts. The left hand supports the cup. This image likely illustrates a step in a crafting process.

Step 5

Take the remaining cup and place it right side up. Using the ruler, measure and mark a 5cm × 6cm rectangle on the cup.

A bright pink paper cup sits on a light wood-grain table. A rectangular area is marked on the cup with black lines and labeled with dimensions: 5cm across the top and 6cm down the side. This image appears to be providing measurements for a craft or DIY project.

Step 6

Carefully cut out the rectangle along the marked lines using scissors.

Two hands are cutting a bright pink paper cup on a light wood-grain table. The left hand holds the cup at an angle, while the right hand uses black scissors to make a vertical cut down the side. This image likely depicts a step in a craft or DIY project.

Step 7

Take the wooden stick and tape it to the inside of the cup.

Two hands are working with a modified pink paper cup on a light wood-grain table. A rectangular hole has been cut into the side of the cup, and a thin wooden dowel is being inserted through this opening. Orange material is visible inside the cup around the hole. This image appears to be a step in constructing a craft or DIY project.

Step 8

Place a lit candle through the rectangular opening you cut in step 6. Ask an adult to help with this step.

A small, lit tea light candle sits inside a modified pink paper cup on a light wood-grain table. A rectangular opening has been cut into the cup's side to reveal the candle's flame. A thin wooden dowel extends upwards from the cup's opening. A hand gestures towards the candle, with a finger pointing near the flame. Orange material is visible inside the cup, behind the candle. This image appears to showcase a completed DIY or craft project, possibly a small lantern.

Step 9

Now place the cup with the "L" shapes upside down on the wooden stick, trying to align the openings of both cups. Wait patiently, and your lantern will begin to spin. Adult supervision is required for this step - remember fire safety!

A simple science experiment or demonstration is depicted on a light wood-grain table. A small, lit tea light candle sits inside a modified pink paper cup with a rectangular window cut out to reveal the flame. A thin wooden dowel extends upwards from this cup, connecting to an inverted yellow paper cup above. The yellow cup has triangular flaps cut and folded outwards from its sides, resembling a simple turbine or pinwheel. This setup likely demonstrates a principle of physics, such as convection or the transfer of heat energy.

The Science Behind It:

The heat from the flame warms the surrounding air. The heated air molecules have lower density and therefore rise, creating an upward current. This rising air current pushes against the fan blades (the "L" shapes), causing the lantern to rotate.

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