Make
Make your own consequence wheel
Short answer
You can make your own consequence wheel from a paper plate, two cardboard circles, or a dry-erase round. A DIY consequence wheel is ready when the slices are options you already agreed to, the pointer can reach every slice, and both adults can read it.
Buy nothing if you can help it. A plate, a marker, and a paper clip are a finished spinner. Cardboard is the version that survives the fridge. A laminated circle or a small whiteboard is the version you can rewrite on the review date.
If you would rather edit on a screen tonight, the free wheel is the same idea without scissors. Many families print the words and type them too.
Spin only what you already agreed to.
Use the free wheelPages in this guide
- How to make a consequence wheel
The full build, from a blank circle to a pointer you trust.
- Cardboard consequence wheel
A flat, readable wheel cut from a shipping box.
- Paper plate consequence wheel
One plate, one clip, one calm list.
- Dry-erase consequence wheel
A wheel you can rewrite without cutting a new circle.
- Consequence wheel templates
Empty slices, category prompts, and the printable on this site.
- Consequence wheel materials
What to gather, and what not to buy.
Choose a build before you shop
Start with the version that matches the next two weeks, not a fantasy of a perfect craft. A paper plate proves the idea. Cardboard replaces it if the plate bends. Dry-erase replaces marker when the list is still changing.
Write the slices before you decorate. Decoration is optional. An agreement is not. The consequence wheel guide explains what belongs in a slice if you are still deciding the words.
| You have | Make | Page |
|---|---|---|
| An evening and a plate | Paper-clip spinner | Paper plate |
| A shipping box and a wall | Sturdy circle | Cardboard |
| A list that will change | Laminated round or whiteboard | Dry-erase |
| A printer | Blank template | Templates |
| Uncertainty about supplies | A comparison | Materials |
| Want every step in one place | The full build | How to make one |
Shared rules for every version
Divide the circle into four to eight slices. Six slices is a clock: mark 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Eight slices is a pizza cut in half, then half again, then once more. Equal slices mean an equal chance. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics uses spinners to teach that a wider section lands more often.
An adult handles scissors and any small fastener. Hang the wheel where you will see it before you are upset, and out of reach of a child who still mouths small objects. Put a name in the center if you want the result to feel personal.
Fill it with the printable, or with your own words
The blank printable wheel has eight prompts you can copy or ignore: a redo, a pause, a repair, a practice, a fun thing that waits, a later check-in, a written plan, and one slice of your own. Category ideas live on the ideas page.
Pencil first, marker second. A dry-erase version can skip the marker-forever step. Either way, set a review date and do not edit the wheel in the middle of using it.
Questions people ask
What is the fastest DIY consequence wheel?
A paper plate, a marker, and a paper clip on a brass fastener. Most families finish it in one sitting. Write the slices in pencil before you commit with marker.
Do we need to buy a kit?
No. Kits add lights and plastic you do not need. A readable circle and a pointer that stops on a slice are the whole object. Spend the effort on the words.
Can we use the free wheel instead of building one?
Yes. Use the screen if you want to edit quickly and spin an amount. Use paper if two adults share a kitchen and not a phone. The words should match if you use both.