It doesn’t matter what you call them, these DIY coin or penny paper plate spinners are great fun to make with your children. When they spin, the colors mix together and make a real show.
I remember making these as a child, they absolutely capture my heart.
What I especially love about them is that they are simple craft to make, you basically have everything you need and they offer great entertainment and education.
Recommended age: 5 years +
(Strict and active supervision required at all times)
DIY coin or penny paper plate spinners
To make your own spinners with your children, you’ll need –
- Paper plate
- Round cup
- Pen
- Ruler
- Markers
- Scissors
- Penny (or coin)
Begin by tracing a circle shape on your white paper plate.
You’re using a paper plate because the cardboard is stronger than paper.
Cut our your circle shape.
Use a ruler and draw a straight line through the middle of your circle. You are dividing the shape into half.
Use your ruler once again, draw a straight line in the opposite direction, but through the middle of your circle. You have now divided your circle into quarters.
Obviously when you’re doing this with your children, your creating a wonderful opportunity to introduce or consolidate an understanding of fractions.
Go about drawing another two lines through each space, dividing them equally, as shown above.
Your circle should not be divided into 8 equal parts.
If you’re looking for an extra fraction resource, be sure to check out this popular product that focuses on shapes being broken equally or unequally –
Once you’ve prepared the circle, your child can go about coloring it in however they please.
You might like to request they decorate it using a pattern.
Many teachers will use this particular spinning craft activity to teach and demonstrate to children how colors mix together.
Alternatively, your child might like to do this paper plate craft and decorate it however they please.
Once they are happy and finished decorating their paper plate spinner, carefully use scissors or a stanley knife to create a slit in the middle.
This slit needs to be the exact length of the penny or coin that you’re using.
Once in place, your child can spin the spinner by quickly twisting the coin and having it spin on it’s end.
How do you think your child would decorate their spinner?
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