This is a quick outline of the inquiry investigation we will do today. If you need scientific jargon to back up your reason for doing such foolishness in the classroom, your students will gain a greater conceptual understanding of such abstract concepts like momentum, inertia, mass, gyroscopic precession and much more through their play with tops. This evolves into a wonderful and positive feedback loop for the learning process. Dowels - some cut to 6 inches with one end sanded round.
Pencils also work well as spindles too.
Try different diameter dowels. Get to know the wood shop teacher for cutting and sanding the dowels. Nail to punch holes. Washers and nuts to be used as weights. This will be used as an assessment tool at end of unit.