Electric Fan

Hello there. I am an Electric Fan. Have you ever felt super, super hot on a sunny day? When your cheeks get all red and you feel sticky? Long, long ago, before I was here to help, people would get so warm. They would take a piece of paper and wave it back and forth, back and forth. Swish, swish, swish. It made a tiny little puff of air, but their arms would get so tired. It was hard work just to feel a little bit cool. They wished for a big, breezy friend to help them.

Then, one day, a very clever man named Schuyler Skaats Wheeler had a wonderful idea. It was the year 1882. Mr. Wheeler saw the buzz, buzz, buzz of new electricity and thought, "What if I could make something spin all by itself to make a big breeze?". So he worked and tinkered until he made me. I had shiny blades and a little motor that hummed with energy. He turned me on, and for the very first time, my blades began to spin. Whoosh. I went around and around, faster and faster. I made a big, cool wind that filled the whole room and made the papers on his desk dance. I was so excited. I could make a breeze without anyone’s arms getting tired. It was my whirly, twirly beginning, and I felt so proud.

Now, I am a cool friend for everyone. When the sun is shining too brightly, I am there to help. I hum my soft, breezy song to help little babies fall asleep in their cribs. I keep families cool and comfy when they eat their yummy dinners together. Sometimes, I even help artists by gently drying their beautiful, colorful paintings. I love to send my cool breezes everywhere. It makes me so happy to be a helpful friend, humming my whirly song whenever you need to feel a nice, cool whoosh of air.