Paper Spinners

While studying Art related careers such as fashion, costume design, and set design, I decided that toy design would be something my students could actually use or give to a sibling or younger student to use for play. Toy making is much like learning to cook, you start with learning recipes that you can use as a springboard for creativity. You alter things until after time you come up with something totally unique. 

This spinning toy, I saw online and felt it was a perfect craft for my students who bring figits to class every day to deal with their stimming behavior. To make this, you will need: 16 strips of paper that were 8.5 inches by 1/4 inches. 4- 1 inch paper circles with a hole in the middle made with a hole punch, a bamboo skewer, a bead, and 1.5 inch piece of straw.  You'll also need liquid glue and maybe hot glue for the finishing touches. 

Start by putting glue on one of your donut shaped circles of paper and attaching the strips of 4 strips to make a plus sign, and then four more to make a multiplication sign. Then you can fill in every other space, to ensure that all 16 strips of paper are evenly distributed. Glue another "donut" to the top of the ends of the strips so that they are covered and more secure. Then put glue on a 3rd "donut" and turn the ends of each strip like the page of a book to glue it one by one to the top of  the "donut" near the hole. Top with the last paper donut shape.

Slide the skewer through the bottom and top holes like you are stringing a bead. Then glue a bead or two to the top with hot glue. Be sure it attaches to the paper "donut" and doesn't spin around.

The piece of plastic straw should have four slits made with a pair of scissors at the top and then spread out each prong like petals of a flower opening or a banana being pealed. Slide the straw, spread out but at the top, and glue each prong with hot glue to the bottom "donut" on the sphere. Careful! use the small glue gun with low heat so as not to melt the straw or burn yourself!

Once the glue is dry and cool you can spin the skewer between your fingers or hands. You can also spin the skewer between a finger and thumb of one hand while holing the straw with your other hand and twist the strips in both directions. Students found ways to play with these that I hadn't imagined, and loved hearing their laughter as they figured out new ideas.

 

DYI Spinning Toys

Before the days of Fidget Spinners there were tops and button buzzers (aka whirly gigs). These seemed like the perfect thing to add to my art class "toy-making" unit. Cardboard, makers, and either string or a toothpick is all it takes to make these simple and fun toys.

For the button buzzer we traced a lid or jar to make a circle. We cut it out and then picked two primary colors, knowing that once the circle started to spin, they would blend to create a secondary color. Two holes were poked on either side of the center of the circle. I figure a finger's width is a good measure for how to distance the holes. We cut a piece of string or yarn a couple feet long, then threaded the ends through the holes so that they both came out the same side. I tied a couple square knots before sliding the disc to the center of the loop. Then it's just a matter of holding both ends of the  loop, swinging the disc in a circular motion about twenty times before slowly pulling and releasing, pulling and releasing. When it starts to die down, try nursing it back to motion before giving up right away. The trick is to let your hands get close enough together for the string to wind itself one direction, pulling to spin it the opposite direction and then letting it continue to wind in that direction by relaxing and shortening your distance again. The timing is tricky but if my students can catch on, you can too.

A decorated circle of card stock and toothpick can be used to make a top, but we used cardboard for added sturdiness, and because the toothpick kept sliding, we swapped it out for a thin dowel with the bottom sharpened with a pencil sharpener. Placing the stick in the very center is essential for the top to spin right, and a little glue makes for a good reinforcement. If it seems off balance, it's OK to trim the tiniest amounts at a time to try to get it all balanced. The tops worked well enough once students learned to spin them, but the button buzzers held their attention for longer periods of time. Have fun experimenting with your own spinning toys.