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Make a paper spinner

Make a paper spinner
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Make a colorful paper spinner using cardstock, scissors, and a pencil. Cut, fold, and decorate to test how weight and shape affect spinning.

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Step-by-step guide to make a colorful paper spinner

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Easiest DIY PAPER SPINNERS Kids Will Love

What you need
Adult supervision required, cardstock, coloring materials (markers crayons or colored pencils), pencil, scissors

Step 1

Gather your cardstock scissors pencil and coloring materials and find a clear table to work on.

Step 2

Use your pencil to draw a circle about as wide as your hand and put a small dot in the center.

Step 3

Cut out the circle carefully along your pencil line.

Step 4

Draw four straight lines from the center to the edge to divide the circle into blades and cut along each line stopping about 1 centimeter from the center.

Step 5

Push the pencil tip gently through the center dot to make a small hole for the spinner axis (ask an adult for help).

Step 6

Fold each blade up just a little in the same direction so they look like tiny airplane wings.

Step 7

Decorate each blade with bright colors or patterns using your coloring materials.

Step 8

Cut a tiny slit or notch at the tip of each blade to hold a small weight.

Step 9

Cut four small squares from your leftover cardstock and fold each square into a tiny compact weight.

Step 10

Tuck one folded square into the notch at the tip of one blade to make that blade heavier.

Step 11

Slide the spinner gently onto the pencil tip through the center hole so it can turn.

Step 12

Spin the spinner by flicking a blade or blowing on it and watch how it moves.

Step 13

Move a weight to a different blade to make the spinner unbalanced and change how it spins.

Step 14

Spin the spinner the same way again and compare how long or steady each version spins.

Step 15

Take a photo or note of your favorite spinner and share your finished creation on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have cardstock, a pencil, or little cardstock squares for weights?

Substitute a cereal-box cardboard or two glued sheets of printer paper for the cardstock, use a toothpick or straightened paperclip pushed through the center dot instead of the pencil tip, and fold tiny pieces of scrap paper or use small buttons taped into the notches as weights.

Why does my spinner wobble or not spin smoothly and how do I fix it?

If it wobbles or won't spin, widen the center hole only slightly so the axis (pencil tip or substitute) turns freely, ensure your blade cuts stopped about 1 centimeter from the center and each blade is folded the same direction, and secure the folded weight in its notch with a tiny piece of tape so it doesn't fall out.

How can I adapt the activity for younger toddlers or older kids?

For younger children have an adult pre-cut the circle and notches and provide pre-folded weights and stickers for decorating, while older kids can move weights, time spins, and record how different weight positions change spin duration.

How can we improve or extend the spinner project once it's finished?

Enhance the spinner by adding a small bead or earring finding on the pencil tip as a low-friction pivot, tape or glue some weights to test fixed imbalances, make several spinners with different blade shapes or weight sizes, and photograph your favorite to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a colorful paper spinner

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How to Make Easy Paper Spinners | Science Craft

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Facts about paper crafts and basic physics

✂️ Cardstock is thicker and stiffer than regular paper (often around 200–350 gsm), which helps spinners hold their shape.

⚖️ Moving mass farther from the center increases the moment of inertia, which can make a spinner steadier but slower to accelerate.

🔬 Paper spinners let kids explore the same rotation principles used in gyroscopes that help guide spacecraft and smartphones.

🌀 Spinning tops stay upright longer the faster they spin because angular momentum resists tipping.

🎨 Uneven decorations or folds can shift a spinner’s center of mass and cause wobbling instead of smooth spinning.

How do you make a paper spinner?

Draw a circle on cardstock, cut it out, and mark the exact center. Cut small slits or shape the edges into blades, then fold each blade slightly to create lift. Push a pencil (point down) through the center or use a pushpin and hold the pencil upright as a pivot. Decorate with markers or stickers, then spin and observe how it turns. Adult help is recommended for cutting and pushing the pivot.

What materials do I need for a paper spinner?

You’ll need sturdy cardstock, scissors, a pencil with an eraser (or a pushpin and base), and a ruler or compass to draw circles. Optional: paperclips or small washers for weight, tape or glue, markers or paints for decoration, and a craft knife with adult supervision. Having a timer and a notepad helps if you want to record spin times and compare designs.

What ages is this activity suitable for?

This craft suits children aged about 4–10. Younger kids (4–6) enjoy decorating and simple folding with close adult supervision for cutting. Ages 7–10 can cut, assemble, and experiment more independently, testing different shapes and weights. Older children can turn it into a science activity by timing spins and recording results. Always supervise scissors and small weights for safety.

What are some variations to test how weight and shape affect spinning?

Try different blade shapes (rounded, pointed, square), varying blade length, or adding tiny weights like paperclips to one side. Make symmetrical versus asymmetrical spinners and measure spin duration and wobble. Change the pivot point (center vs off-center) or stack two spinners together. Record observations to learn how balance, mass distribution, and blade angle influence speed and stability.
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