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You are here: Home / By Age / Elementary / Halloween Science for Kids: Pumpkin Spinning Tops

September 14, 2017 By Chelsey

Halloween Science for Kids: Pumpkin Spinning Tops

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Turn these inverting spinning tops into “breakdancing” jack-o’-lanterns or pumpkins in this fun Halloween science activity for kids! Children can paint these wooden tops to resemble pumpkins or jack-o’-lanterns and then use them to explore physics in action!

Follow our Halloween for Kids Pinterest board!

 

Fall and Halloween Science for Kids: Make pumpkin or jack-'o-lantern inverting spinning tops. Fun craft and STEM activity for kids to explore physics!

This post contains affiliate links.

 

This Halloween science activity is super simple and provides all kinds of fun and learning through play. In this physics project, kids will paint or color inverted wooden tops to resemble pumpkins or jack-o’-lanterns and then watch them spin and flip! Perfect for a classroom Halloween party!

Be sure to check out our CD spinning top activity too!

 

pumpkin spinning tops craft and science activity for kids for fall or Halloween

 

Breakdancing Jack-O’-Lantern Spinning Top Halloween Science

 

Materials for Pumpkin Spinning Tops

  • Inverted wooden spinning tops
  • Acrylic paint in orange and green (or orange and green permanent markers)
  • Black Sharpie marker
  • Optional: Green ribbon

 

 

pumpkin spinning tops craft and science activity for kids for fall or Halloween

Directions for Making Pumpkin Spinning Tops

1. Paint the top or stem of the wooden top green and the bottom of the top orange and let dry. (To simplify the project, kids can color the tops with permanent markers.)

 

pumpkin inverted spinning top craft and science for kids for fall or Halloween

 

2. If making jack-o’-lanterns, use a black Sharpie to draw a jack-o’-lantern face on the top.

 

jack-'o-lantern spinning top science and craft for kids perfect for Halloween

 

If making pumpkins, tie a small piece of green ribbon to the stem to make leaves.

 

Be sure to check out our CD spinning top activity too!

 

 

3. Practice spinning the tops on a flat surface and try to get your pumpkins to invert and flip and spin on the stem. This may take some practice!

 

pumpkin spinning tops craft and science activity for kids for fall or Halloween

 

I love how it looks like the jack-o’-lanterns are breakdancing!

 

pumpkin spinning tops craft and science activity for kids for fall or Halloween

 

Ways to Extend the Activity

  • Try spinning a hard-boiled egg. Can you spin it on its side and cause it to rise up to spin on its end?
  • Decorate your top with different designs. How do they look when spinning?
  • Do different surfaces affect the way the top spins? Try it out!
  • Ask kids for tips on how to successfully get the tops to invert. Have them describe their findings and observations.

Fall and Halloween Science for Kids: Make pumpkin or jack-'o-lantern inverting spinning tops. Fun craft and STEM activity for kids to explore physics!

 

Check out all kinds of fun Halloween STEM ideas in our STEAM Kids Halloween Ebook!

STEAM Kids Halloween Ideas
 


 
Fall and Halloween Science for Kids: Make pumpkin or jack-'o-lantern inverting spinning tops. Fun craft and STEM activity for kids to explore physics!
 

Filed Under: Elementary, Halloween, Pumpkins, Science Tagged With: halloween, jack-o-lanterns, physics

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Welcome to Buggy and Buddy! I'm Chelsey, a former teacher and parent living on the central coast of California. I love sharing crafts, science, STEM and STEAM activities, free printables and more! Read More…

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