Spinning Tops
Spinning Tops are a toy with a long history and endless variety of designs.  I have not as yet developed a whole class spin top project but have made many with smaller groups of children.  They have of course been made popular again with the beyblade craze. Making larger tops, generating spin with a rip chord and battling multiple tops in an arena is a recipe for excitement!

Instructions to come...

Flat Spinning Tops
Difficulty to Make:
Wooden 
CD
Materials
Plastic tube, wooden circle, 12mm wooden dowel, chord, pva glue
Tools
Drill/bit, sandpaper, saw (fretsaw, jigsaw, scroll saw, or sand paper and elbow grease)

Instructions
1 Saw a circle from 4mm to 10mm thick wooden sheet. Circle can be from 50mm diameter up to... sand smooth
2 Mark the exact center of the circle. drill a pilot hole using a small 5mm drill bit