the lincoln high dive

• A Lincoln penny (or other small coin)
• A piece of card stock or stiff paper
• A film canister, baby food jar, or other similar size container with an mouth slightly larger than a penny
• Pencil or pen
• Scissors

1. Cut the cardstock paper into a long strip about .75 inches (2 cm) wide and form it into a hoop as shown. The paper should be stiff enough to hold the hoop shape on its own and the hoop works best when it is between 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) across.
2. For dramatic effect, fill the film canister with water and place on a level surface.
3. Place the hoop on the film canister as shown and balance the penny on the top of the hoop.
4. Time for Lincoln's big moment! Place a pencil through the center of the hoop and in one swift motion fling the hoop off to the side as pictured. If you do this correctly, the hoop will fly out of the way, and the penny will fall straight down into the canister with a splash. 10 points for Lincoln!