Spinning Tops

Supplies Used: Adhesive, Cardstock, Construction and copy paper, Craft knife, Eraser (pencil top, new), Marker, Pen or pencil, Push pin

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. From the Spinning Top shape die-cut a white circle using cardstock, a red circle using copy paper, and a red spiral using construction paper.
2. Fold the copy paper into fourths. Unfold the paper, and poke a hole in the paper with a push pin where the folds intersect.
3. Align the copy paper with the white circle, and poke the push pin through the center of the circle.
4. Fasten the red spiral onto the white circle with adhesive (Main Photo).
5. If the center of the spiral covers the hole in the white circle, turn the circle over and insert the push pin back through the hole to mark the center. Turn the circle over, and poke the push pin through the center hole.
6. Cut an eraser off a new pencil with a craft knife, or take the eraser out of an automatic pencil.
7. Push the eraser tightly onto the push pin, allowing the tip of the push pin to show.
8. Die-cut the 4" circle from the Fraction Circles using white cardstock. Die-cut eight different colors of construction paper from the 1/8" circle in the Fraction Circles.
9. Follow steps 2 and 3 above to mark the center of the circle.
10. Adhere the different colors to the cardstock (Main Photo).
11. If the colors cover the hole in the white circle, turn the circle over and insert the push pin back through the hole.
12. Follow steps 6 and 7 above.
13. There are many patterns available online that will create different optical illusions when the top is spinning (Main Photo).
14. Discuss basic physics that apply to the motion and energy students use with their spinners. Also discuss color theory, for example, what color is created when you mix red and blue?