Science Challenge

Get involved in our January Science Challenge - Make a spinning top 

Science Challenge - Make your own Frost 

*You will need adult help for this*

Resources:

• Scissors
• Pencil/pen
• Toothpick
• Small piece blue tack or playdough
• Paper
• Something circular to trace e.g. Plastic cup
• Optional: Colouring pencils

Instructions:

1. Trace around your circular object on the piece of paper. You can add a design to your spinning top if you wish.
2. Cut this shape out.
3. Poke the toothpick through the middle of the circle. (Use an adults help for this). To make it easier to poke the toothpick through, place a small piece of blue tack or play dough underneath the spinning top disk.
4. Then give your spinning top a twist and see how it spins.

If your spinning top gets a little loose during play, you can add a little blue tack around the hole to help hold the toothpick in place.

Please send a photo on Class Dojo to your teacher. All entries will receive a sticker.

The Science

What makes a spinning top spin? Forces! When we use our fingers to set a top spinning, we are giving the top a force that converts its potential (stored) energy into kinetic energy (the energy of motion). After a while, friction does slow the spinning when the spinning top starts to wobble.

Science of the Month: Forces

Choose one of the following topics to investigate:

1. Try with another size spinning top. Which size spinning top works best?

2. Go around your house. List the objects you can push and pull. Are there any objects which are both push and pull?

3. Research forces. Draw a picture to represent some different forces (push, pull, friction, air resistance).

You can also download our Science Challenge as a PDF.

• Science Challenge February (PDF)