Saturday STEAM Challenge – Paper Plate Top

Paper Plate Top

Making a homemade spinning top is easier than you might think! In this fun STEAM challenge, kids will explore motion and design while testing which coin works best to create the longest spin.

Materials:
-Paper Plates
-Variety of Coins (Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar, Dollar)
-Magic Markers, paint, or crayons
-Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Take your paper plate and decorate it! Use markers to add all kinds of colors or designs. Try spirals, polka dots, stripes or waves.
  2. Create a slit in the middle of the plate. Make sure it is no bigger than a dime. This will be our first coin to test.
  3. Slip the dime in the slit in the middle of the plate.
  4. Spin your top!
  5. Repeat steps with penny, nickel, quarter, and half dollar. Coins can be placed in the spinner one at a time OR they can each go in a spinner of their own.

As the top spins, watch closely to see how the colors blend and change. You might notice cool patterns or optical illusions forming as the top spins faster!

Now it’s time to experiment. Try different coins and see which one helps the top spin the longest. Does the size or weight of the coin make a difference?

Extra STEAM Challenges to try:

  1. Design Illusion Challenge: Draw stripes, spirals, or dots and watch how the patterns change while spinning.
  2. Color Mix Challenge: Use multiple colors and observe how they blend together when the top spins quickly.
  3. Balance Challenge: What happens if the coin is slightly off center?
  4. Engineering Upgrade: Try adding small paper pieces to change the weight distribution and see what happens.

This simple activity helps kids explore physics concepts like motion, balance, and rotation while encouraging creativity and experimentation.

How did it go? Let us know below!

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xo Shiny Happy Kids