Make a Twirling Rainbow Toy
Make a twirling rainbow toy from cardstock, straw, and beads; decorate colors, balance the spinner, and explore motion and symmetry safely.
About this activity
Make a twirling rainbow toy from cardstock, straw, and beads; decorate colors, balance the spinner, and explore motion and symmetry safely.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Clear a flat workspace and lay out all your materials where you can reach them.
- 2
Step 2
Place any round object on the cardstock and trace a circle with your pencil.
- 3
Step 3
Cut the circle out carefully with scissors.
- 4
Step 4
Fold the circle in half and press to make a crease.
- 5
Step 5
Fold the circle in half again and press to make a second crease.
- 6
Step 6
Unfold the circle and use a ruler to draw six slices from the center to the edge to make pie shapes.
- 7
Step 7
Color each slice in rainbow order red orange yellow green blue purple using your colouring materials.
- 8
Step 8
Make a small hole exactly at the center with a hole punch or with a sharp pencil using adult help.
- 9
Step 9
Push the straw through the center hole so the paper circle sits centered on the straw.
- 10
Step 10
Slide the same number of beads onto each side of the straw and move them until the circle sits balanced.
- 11
Step 11
Tape the beads in place on each side of the straw so they do not slide.
- 12
Step 12
Hold the straw near the circle and give the circle a gentle flick to make it twirl.
- 13
Step 13
If the circle wobbles adjust beads equally on both sides until it spins smoothly.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished twirling rainbow toy on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you make a twirling rainbow toy from cardstock, straw, and beads?
To make a twirling rainbow toy, cut a rainbow shape from sturdy cardstock (about 6–8 inches wide). Color each arc, then mark and punch a small hole at the center. Thread a short straw onto a pencil or skewer to serve as an axle, or use a straight drinking straw with beads on either side. Slide the spinner onto the straw and add beads or tiny washers to balance. Test and shift beads until it spins smoothly. Use adult help for cutting and punching.
What materials do I need to make a twirling rainbow toy?
Materials you'll need: cardstock or stiff paper, a drinking straw or short straw segment, a few small beads or washers, scissors, markers or paints for decorating, a hole punch or pin to make the center hole, tape or glue, and a pencil or skewer to test the axle. Optional: glitter, stickers, and a ruler. Supervise scissors and small parts around young children.
What ages is this twirling rainbow toy activity suitable for?
Suitable for children aged four and up with adult support; preschoolers (four to five) enjoy decorating but need help cutting and punching holes. Ages six to nine can assemble most steps independently and learn balance and symmetry. Children ten and older can experiment with axle lengths, bead placement, and motion. Always supervise under-fives because of small bead choking hazards and use caution with sharp tools.
What are the benefits and safety tips for making a twirling rainbow toy?
Making a twirling rainbow toy builds fine motor skills, color recognition, early geometry (symmetry), and introduces basic motion concepts like balance and spin. It encourages creativity and problem-solving when adjusting beads to balance the spinner. Safety tips: avoid small beads for children under three, supervise use of scissors and hole punches, secure edges of cardstock, and keep straws and small parts away from mouths. Adult supervision is recommended for all steps involving cutting or sh
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of cardstock, a straw, or a hole punch if we don't have them?
If you don't have cardstock use a flattened cereal box or thin cardboard for steps 2–3, swap in a sturdier stick or pencil for the straw in step 9, and make the center hole in step 8 with a sharp pencil (with adult help) instead of a hole punch.
My circle wobbles or slides on the straw—how can I fix it?
If the circle wobbles after step 12, slide the beads equally along the straw as in step 10 to rebalance, and if the hole in step 8 is too large reinforce the center with a small piece of tape or a paper washer before step 9 so it doesn't slide.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For preschoolers, pre-cut and pre-punch the circle (steps 2–8) and use large wooden beads with close adult supervision, while older kids can design more detailed rainbow slices in step 7 and experiment with bead placement in step 10 to explore balance and rotation.
How can we extend or personalize the twirling rainbow toy to make it more fun or durable?
To personalize and strengthen the toy, glue a second decorated circle back-to-back before step 9, seal the coloring with clear tape or laminating sheets, add stickers or glitter to the slices from step 7, and time spins while varying bead positions in step 10 to create a mini spin experiment.