No.242
Paper-Plate Spinning
Japanese name: 紙皿の皿回し
Materials
- Two paper plates per person
- A shallow ring cut from a paper cup’s base, about 5 mm high
- Glue and tape
- A short stick with a blunt end
How to play
- An adult stacks two plates and tapes their edges together, then glues the paper-cup base ring to the centre and lets it dry fully. Use only light paper decorations.
- Leave space around each person and hold the stick vertically. Put the plate on the stick's tip with its ring underneath, supporting the plate with your other hand.
- Give the plate a small spin with the supporting hand. Make small stick movements to keep its tip at the plate's centre. Begin simply by balancing the plate without spinning if needed.
- If the plate starts to fall, lower the stick and stop rather than chasing it. Pick it up and try again, aiming for a personal target such as three or five seconds.
- Finish after about three attempts each. Successful participants demonstrate their grip and how they start the spin. Check the plate's glued parts and the stick before putting them away.
Ways to adapt
Younger primary school children: balance an adult-made plate without spinning. Older primary school children: keep it spinning.