Do the Spiral
Make a colorful paper spiral spinner, cut and hang it to observe optical motion and patterns, exploring symmetry, rotation, and color effects.
Step-by-step guide to make a colorful paper spiral spinner (Do the Spiral)
Step 1
Gather all the materials from the list and set them on a clear workspace.
Step 2
Place the cup upside down on the paper and trace around it with your pencil to make a big circle.
Step 3
Draw a single continuous spiral starting near the center and curling outward until you reach the circle edge.
Step 4
Colour the spiral in bright alternating bands or patterns using your colouring materials.
Step 5
Cut along the spiral line from the outer edge toward the center until you reach the middle.
Step 6
Make a small hole in the very center circle using the hole punch or the tip of the sharp pencil.
Step 7
Thread the string through the center hole and tie a knot so the spiral hangs securely.
Step 8
Tie or tape the other end of the string to the drinking straw or stick to make a handle.
Step 9
Hang the straw or stick so the spiral can spin freely from a doorknob or a hook.
Step 10
Gently twist the straw or stick to wind the spiral and then let go so the spiral spins.
Step 11
Spin the spiral faster and watch how the colours and shapes blur and make motion patterns.
Step 12
Draw or write one or two notes about any symmetry or colour effects you notice while it spins.
Step 13
Take a photo or description of your finished colorful spiral spinner and share it on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of the cup, hole punch, or straw if we don't have them?
If you don't have a cup, use a bowl or lid to trace the circle, poke the center hole with the tip of the sharp pencil instead of a hole punch, and tie the string to a wooden skewer, chopstick, or rolled-up cardboard tube in place of the drinking straw.
My spiral keeps tearing or the center rips when I cut—what should I do?
Use stiffer paper or card from the start, cut slowly following the spiral line while rotating the paper (not the scissors), and if the very center rips use a small patch of tape on the back before making the center hole.
How can I adapt the steps for different age groups?
For toddlers have an adult trace and cut the spiral while the child colours with thick markers and uses a sturdy stick handle, for early elementary let kids trace, colour, and cut with supervision, and for older children encourage finer spiral spacing, detailed patterns, and testing different string lengths on a doorknob for faster spins.
What are simple ways to enhance or personalize the spiral spinner?
Add beads or sequins on the string, paint alternating bands with glow-in-the-dark or metallic colours, stack two different-sized spirals on the same string for layered motion effects, and take close-up photos of the colour blur to compare symmetry notes before sharing on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make a colorful paper spiral spinner (Do the Spiral)
How to Draw Spirals Built on Two, Three, Four and Six Points | Golden Spiral Step by Step
4 Videos
How to Draw Spirals Built on Two, Three, Four and Six Points | Golden Spiral Step by Step
How to Draw an Archimedean Spiral | Easy Animated Tutorial
How to Draw a Flawless Spiral | Easy Step by Step Spiral Drawing Tutorial
How To Draw A Spiral🪢🪢 | Step By Step Easy
Facts about paper crafts and optical motion
✂️ If you cut a spiral from a circle, it becomes one long curly streamer — perfect for hanging spinners from a single sheet of paper.
🔁 A symmetric spinner can look identical after certain turns — that's called rotational symmetry (like flipping 180°).
👀 After watching a spinning pattern, a still object can seem to drift; that's a neat trick called the motion aftereffect.
🎨 Spin two colors quickly and your eye blends them, creating new perceived colors without mixing any paint!
🌀 Spirals show up all around us — in snail shells, sunflowers, hurricanes, and even galaxies.
How do you make and use a colorful paper spiral spinner to observe optical motion and patterns?
What materials do I need to make a paper spiral spinner?
What ages is the paper spiral spinner activity suitable for?
What are the benefits of making paper spiral spinners and how can I keep it safe?
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