Wind Chimes

Ever since I can remember I have loved the sounds of a wind chime. I always had one hanging out back and it was very soothing.

The history of wind chimes dates back to prehistoric times. The greatest and most elegant development was in east and south Asia, from Bali to Tibet and Japan. Buddhists attached thousands of elegantly
decorated, cast, or carved wind chimes and wind bells to the eaves of sacred religious structures to create an almost deafening sound in the wind.

You can learn more about wind chimes here:Origin of Wind Chimes 

Here are the materials you will need:

• 5 1/4-inch-diameter plastic flowerpot saucer
• Five 1 1/2-inch-diameter clay pots
• Clear acrylic finish
• Pushpin
• Acrylic paint
• Scissors

• String
• Hole punch
• Soda bottle
• Craft knife
• Small bells
• Buttons

Instructions:

1. Paint the saucer and pots. When the paint dries, add a coat of clear acrylic finish. Let it dry.
2. Using a pushpin, make a hole in the center of the plastic saucer and at four equidistant spots around the side of the saucer. Widen the holes with scissors or a compass point if needed (a parent's job).
3. Cut five leaf shapes out of the soda bottle (a parent's job).
4. Cut four 1 1/2-foot lengths of string.
5. To make each chime, punch a hole in the end of a plastic leaf and tie it onto the end of the string. Next, slip on the bell, tie a knot about 3/4 inch above the bell, thread on a button and then a pot (upside down).
6. Thread the end of the string out through one of the side holes in the saucer (thread from the inside and make sure the saucer's upside down). To fasten in place, run the string up through one hole in a button and then down through another hole and knot tightly.

Credit:Family Fun

Here are some books related to our topic:

"I bought this for the whirligigs because I thought my students could maybe make one for fun since we are reading a novel called Whirligig. However, the book had very cute ideas for wind chimes for small children, but not really any whirligigs. So, it's not a bad book; it just needs a new title." Reviewed by:RDennler 

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"A good book with a few good projects gives you ideas for things to try"Reviewed by:William Lance 

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