Make a Spiral Paper Building
Make a spiral paper building model by cutting, rolling, and gluing paper sheets. Measure, decorate, and explore shapes, balance, and simple architecture.
About this activity
Make a spiral paper building model by cutting, rolling, and gluing paper sheets. Measure, decorate, and explore shapes, balance, and simple architecture.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all the materials listed and bring them to a clear workspace.
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Step 2
Cut a piece of cardboard to make a flat base about as big as your hand or larger.
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Step 3
Use your pencil and ruler to mark a center point on a paper sheet and draw a spiral line with about 1–2 cm spacing between loops.
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Step 4
Cut along the spiral line carefully with scissors to make one long spiral strip.
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Step 5
Decorate the spiral strip with colouring materials using patterns or colors you like.
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Step 6
Put a drinking straw or an extra pencil on the center of the spiral and start rolling the spiral tightly around it from the outer end.
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Step 7
Put a small dot of glue on the inner tip of the spiral while it is still rolled.
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Step 8
Press the glued inner tip onto the center of your cardboard base and hold it until the glue sets a little.
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Step 9
Slowly unroll the spiral a little and press each loop down onto the base while adding small dabs of glue where a loop touches the layer below.
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Step 10
Add tape or more glue to any loose places to make the spiral building stable.
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Step 11
Use your ruler to measure the height of your spiral building and count how many loops or levels it has to explore shapes and balance.
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Step 12
Share a photo and a short description of your finished spiral paper building on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you make a spiral paper building?
Start by choosing sturdy paper or light cardstock. Measure and draw a continuous spiral or long tapered strip on the sheet, then carefully cut along the line to make one long strip. Roll the strip from the outer end toward the center around a dowel or pencil to form the spiral tower, gluing or taping the inner and outer joins. Mount the spiral on a cardboard base, adjust balance, and decorate with paint, markers, or paper windows to explore shapes and architecture.
What materials do I need for a spiral paper building model?
You’ll need paper or light cardstock, a ruler, pencil, scissors (or craft knife for adults), a cutting mat, and glue or double-sided tape. Optional items: a dowel or pencil for rolling, cardboard for a base, paint or markers, stickers, paper clips or clothespins to hold glued parts, and a protractor for measuring angles. Choose blunt scissors for younger children and a safe workspace for cutting.
What ages is this spiral paper building activity suitable for?
This activity suits kids about 5–12 years. Ages 5–7 enjoy rolling and decorating with adult help for cutting and measuring. Ages 8–12 can handle measuring, drawing the spiral, and glueing more independently while exploring balance and simple architecture. For younger children (3–4), prepare pre-cut strips so they can focus on rolling and decorating without sharp tools.
What are the benefits and safety tips for making spiral paper buildings?
Making spiral paper buildings boosts fine motor skills, spatial thinking, measurement practice, and creative design thinking. It introduces balance and simple architecture concepts. Safety tips: supervise cutting, use child-safe scissors for young kids, prefer glue sticks or low-VOC glue, secure the model to a sturdy base to avoid tipping, and keep small decorations away from children under three. Try variations like different strip widths or stacked spirals to extend learning.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have cardboard or a drinking straw?
If you don't have cardboard for the base, flatten and cut a cereal box panel or use a stiff book cover, and replace the drinking straw in the 'Put a drinking straw or an extra pencil on the center of the spiral' step with a pencil, chopstick, or wooden skewer for rolling.
My spiral keeps unrolling or the glue won't hold — how do I fix that?
If the spiral unrolls or the glue doesn't hold, press the small dab of glue on the inner tip onto the cardboard base until it sets, add small dabs of white craft glue and clear tape at each loop as you 'Slowly unroll the spiral a little and press each loop down', and roll tighter around the straw during the 'start rolling the spiral tightly' step.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For preschoolers, have an adult mark and pre-cut the spiral and let them decorate and press loops onto the cardboard base, while older kids can draw precise 1–2 cm-spaced spirals with a ruler, try different paper types, and use the ruler to measure height and count loops for extra challenge.
How can we make the spiral building more creative or challenging?
To enhance the project, decorate the spiral strip with stickers, sequins, or paint, glue a second spiral on top for layers, add small LED tea lights or paper flags to each loop, and then use the ruler to measure how added weight affects the height and balance as suggested in the 'Use your ruler to measure the height' step.