A Paper Seed with a Spinning Descent
Make a small paper spinner inspired by the way some seeds travel.
- 15–30 minutes
- Little setup
- Easy to pause
- Seated friendly
- Little cleanup
- Low effort
What you need
Use scrap paper and scissors. This is a paper engineering experiment; it does not require seeds or outdoor space.
- paper
- scissors
Make it
Use scrap paper and scissors. This is a paper engineering experiment; it does not require seeds or outdoor space.
- 1
Cut a rectangle about two fingers wide and a hand long. Cut down the center from the top to roughly halfway.
- 2
Fold the two upper flaps in opposite directions to make rotors. Fold the bottom edge up twice to add a little weight.
- 3
Hold it over a clear surface and release it from a comfortable height. Watch whether it turns.
- 4
Adjust one rotor or the bottom fold and try again. Retrieve the paper and scraps before finishing.
Short on energy? Make one spinner and watch a single drop.
A good place to stop: One drop and one adjustment complete the experiment.
Make it work for you: Have the cuts made for you if needed. A seated release above a clear table works; no climbing or reaching is needed.
Another route: Compare two spinners with different rotor lengths, keeping everything else similar.