Saranac Lake Middle School teacher Zachary Dupree brought a group of his eighth grade students out to see the pinwheels they made, drawing looks from rubberneckers passing by the Petrova Elementary School fields on state Route 3.

Dupree said they could write their thoughts about peace, war and tolerance on the paper pinwheels or represent them visually. Some had peace signs drawn on them. Others bore colorful patterns.

“It lets them get their feelings out,” Dupree said.

The project is part of the larger, global Pinwheels for Peace event held each year on Sept. 21. Dupree said this is the fifth year his students had done it.

From left, Pepper Laxson, Addison Colby and Alliseya Susice hold up pinwheels they made, three of more than 170 built by Saranac Lake Middle School students and placed along state Route 3 on Thursday, the International Day of Peace. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Easton Crary drew an American flag on his. Quinn Perkins’ pinwheel was adorned with peace signs on the back. Others said “be kind” or had smiley faces.

After the students found their pinwheels, they took to goofing off, getting trucks, big-rigs and cars passing by to blow their horns by pumping their arms in the air. The horns were the only thing loud enough to drown out the flapping of the pinwheels.

A video of the pinwheels can be viewed at https://youtube.com/shorts/prsQ4yvxK98?si=ZCIndAuY5ffiHY5O.