Hand Spinner

thingiverse

My students often struggle to concentrate in study hall, so I decided to try something new. One of my students came to class with a fidget spinner, which got me thinking - as someone who lives with ADHD, I've found that doodling or tapping my foot can be much more effective than medication or focus-enhancing supplements. To help my students develop their spatial reasoning skills and improve their concentration, I came up with the idea of having them design their own spinners using 123D Design, a basic 3D modeling software. This exercise would also introduce them to geometric construction, which I believe is essential for problem-solving. Here's how I approached designing a triangular hand spinner with central axis rotation: I used 4 skateboard bearings (608zz 8227) that cost me only a couple of dollars on Amazon. I printed the design using my MakerBot Replicator and was pleased to see it work perfectly. Keep in mind that, as someone with larger hands than average, the design may not fit comfortably for everyone. To make a smaller spinner, simply adjust each of the three outer bearing cutouts to be closer to the center. Here are the print settings I used: Printer Brand: MakerBot Printer Model: MakerBot Replicator Rafts: Not necessary Supports: Yes Resolution: Fine Now let's dive into the lesson plan and activity. We'll start by covering geometric construction, including compass and straight-edge techniques, constructing equilateral triangles, and inscribing and circumscribing circles. By mastering these skills, students will be able to create their own spinners using 123D Design and develop a deeper understanding of spatial reasoning.