ABSTRACT
We all played with yo-yos, superballs, spinning tops and other such toys when we were young. These types of toys are part of childhood and I find that students feel happy to experiment with them. I use them to help improve algebra skills. You will also find that, within a group of students, there will be experts in one or more of these toys. Someone will know how to ‘walk the dog’ or ‘spin a back flip’, or will know more about gyroscopes than you do. This always adds to these lessons, for I simply hand over the toy and say, ‘Show me what you can do’. Sometimes when you are a teacher you have to just sit back and say ‘Gosh, that’s clever’ to your students.
