You don’t have to take a trip to the toy store to entertain the kids when you can make these fun paper spinner toys out of simple household materials! Kids love things that spin and spinning tops are one of the earliest toys made in the US! A penny spinner is essentially a spinning top, but it’s also a neat way to explore STEM as well as keep the kiddos off the screens. Make your own penny spinner toy today!
MAKE A HOMEMADE PENNY SPINNER
PAPER SPINNER TEMPLATE
Get ready to add this simple penny spinner project to your STEM activities this season. You can make these penny spinners in no time at all and decorate them any way you like with patterns and colors that mix and swirl together!
Additionally, you will find a fun printable paper spinner template below if desired! Print and color your spinner template and attach them to the paper plate disc. While you’re at it, make sure to check out more fun STEM activities.
Our STEM projects are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!
HOW TO MAKE A PENNY SPINNER
Watch the video:
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YOU WILL NEED:
- Paper plate
- Round cup
- Pen
- Ruler
- Markers
- Scissors
- Penny
- Paper Template
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Draw a circle by tracing around the outside of the cup using the pen. Then cut out the circle.
STEP 2: Use a ruler to find the center of the circle and mark it with a pen.
STEP 3. Place the ruler on the center of the circle and draw a line to create halves.
STEP 4. Then turn the circle and draw another line across the circle to create quarters.
STEP 5. Draw two more lines through the center of each quarter to create eighths.
STEP 6. Use the markers to color each eighth or draw patterns in each section.
STEP 7. Cut a slit in the center of the circle slightly smaller than a penny. Push the penny through the slit.
STEP 8. Holding the penny between your fingers, spin the penny spinner on a flat surface.
HOW DOES A PENNY SPINNER SPIN?
The simplest answer is that something in motion including spinning will stay spinning unless a force is acted upon it. Although the penny spinner doesn’t spin on a tiny point it still shares similar qualities with a traditional top in that it uses something called the conservation of angular momentum to keep spinning.
The spinner or top is rotating around an invisible axis and will continue to do so until some sort of friction is applied. Eventually, the friction between the spinning disc and surface slows down, the rotation becomes wobbly and the top tips over and comes to a stop! Want to read more about spinning tops, click here.
MORE FUN SCIENCE WITH PENNIES
MORE FUN THINGS TO MAKE
- Make A Kaleidoscope
- Self Propelled Vehicle Projects
- Build A Kite
- Popsicle Stick Catapult
- DIY Bouncy Ball
- Air Vortex Cannon
MAKE YOUR OWN PENNY SPINNER TODAY!
Click on the link or on the image below for more awesome physics activities to try.
