  Quantum science is in the news daily and engages student interest and
curiosity. A fundamental quantum science concept that underpins medical
imaging, quantum computing and many future technologies is quantum spin.
Quantum spin can explain many physical phenomena that are in the lower
secondary school curriculum, such as magnetism and light, making its inclusion
a great motivator for students. Here we present an activity sequence for
teaching quantum spin in the classroom using spinning tops and gyroscopes to
highlight the common properties of classical angular momentum and quantum spin.
These toys can provide an easily understood window to the quantum world for
lower secondary school students. Students who have engaged in these activities
reported enjoying the content and appreciating its relevance.
