Origami Jumping Frogs
Did you know that some tree frogs can jump over 7 feet in length? Let’s see how far you can make an origami frog jump! Watch the video to learn all the folding steps to create a pond full of jumping origami froggy friends.
Materials:
- Square Origami Paper
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- Tissue Paper
Step 1: Place the colored side of the square origami paper down towards the table. Fold the paper in half.
Step 2: Take the top left corner of the paper and fold it to the right side of the paper, creating a triangle. Then unfold.
Step 3: Now, take the top right corner and fold it to the left side. Then unfold it again to see an ‘X’ shape on the top half of the paper.
Step 4: Repeat the folds in Step 3 on the other side of the pape to create two ‘X’ shapes, one on each side of the paper.
Step 5: Fold each ‘X’ in half and then unfold. This fold creates a crease that will be helpful in the next step.
Step 6: Hold the paper at the crease that created the halfway point and pinch inwards. The two ends where you pinched should meet in the middle, creating a triangle. Refer to the video if you need help, since this may be one of the trickier folds.
Step 7: Time to create the legs and feet of the frog! Focusing on the top flaps of each triangle, fold the paper inward in the valley-fold format. Fold both sides in this manner. Both of these folds should now look like a diamond shape.
Step 8: Fold the right side of the diamond down and in half, again in a valley-fold. The center edge of the diamond should meet the diamond’s outside edge, and a small ‘tab’ of paper will be sticking out.
Step 9: Fold all of the other triangle flaps in this manner.
Step 10: Flip the paper over.
Step 11: Valley-fold the bottom edge by taking the bottom edge of the diamond shape and folding it toward the center.
Step 12: Fold the top left and right sides in towards the center, looking like a paper airplane point.
Step 13: Flip the frog over and notice the line in his center. Fold him in half along this line.
Step 14: While folded in half, fold his bottom section in half in an upward direction.
Step 15: Place on a table or the ground and gently tap down on its back (the straight edge of the frog). Have fun with your new friend, and next make a family of cute frogs for a jumping-good time!
Ideas to take your jumping origami frog to the next level:
- Use construction paper to create a pond habitat for the frog.
- Make different size frogs by doubling the dimensions of the paper. Create a whole family of different sized frogs!
- Use different colors. Not all frogs are green! Some frogs can be bright colors like red and yellow. But be careful if you see those frogs out in the wild, they may be poisonous!
- Have a jumping contest with your family. Have each of them make a frog and see who’s frog will jump the furthest. Use a ruler and mark out measurements with tape or use a yardstick. Ready, set, race those frogs! Quickly tap the back of the frog to make it go fast.
- Try to get the frog to hop onto something. Use a shallow dish or a bowl to mimic a lily pad. The stiffer the paper is, the easier and higher it will jump!
Learning and Discussion Questions:
1. Just like chameleons, some frogs can change their color to camouflage into their surrounding environment. Some frogs mimic poisonous frogs and change their color to confuse predators. Make some different color frogs and hide them around the house. Hide bright frogs in or around bright color places to see if it is easy to find them or not.
Click here to see the different colors of frogs.
2. Jumping back to the tree frog, as their name describes, mostly live in trees, but some also live part of their life on the ground, primarily to reproduce.
A. Tree frogs come in many different colors, not just the bright green that you may have seen. For example, the Squirrel Tree Frog can change its color!
B. For more information, fun facts, and quizzes about frogs, visit the DK FindOut website!
Thank you to our sponsor, PNC Arts Alive!, for helping to make this video possible!
