This origami jumping frog is such a cute craft to make. Perfect for kids of all ages particularly older kids like preschoolers and elementary age kids. This origami jumping frog is a budget-friendly craft and activity that is not only fun, but educational as it is also a STEM activity. Learn about kinetic energy with this origami jumping frog whether you’re at home or in the classroom!
Origami Jumping Frog
How cute is this origami jumping frog? I remember making these when I was a kid. They’re easy to make with our step by step guide and even more fun to play with. Plus, you can use this origami jumping frog as a lesson not only learning about origami, but as a STEM activity learning about kinetic energy while practicing fine motor skills. The best part is, your kids will never realize they’re learning!
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What Is Origami?
Origami is the act of folding paper. It literally means “to fold paper” in Japanese. There are different types of origami like:
- Traditional
- Modular
- Boxes
- Golden Venture Folding
- Pure
But origami originally started in 1160 BC. Cool huh?
Related: Try making these cute origami penguins!
Video: Origami Jumping Frog
Supplies You Will Need To Make This Jumping Frog
You won’t need a lot to create these cute jumping frogs for this kinetic energy activity for kids.
You’ll need to a rectangle piece of paper that needs to be 8 inches wide and 4 inches across.
How To Make This Origami Jumping Frog
Step 1:
Fold your paper in half and then fold it in half again. These lines will be your guide for the rest of the craft. You will then bring the sides to the center making a right angled triangle. You will then unfold it and repeat on the other side.
Step 2
When it is unfolded you should see X’s on each half of the paper.
Step 3:
Pinch the top and the bottom of your triangles and then you fold the paper in on itself. Once you have done this to both sides you will be left with a triangle.
Step 4
You will take the flaps of the triangles you made and fold them up to the corner. Do the same on the other side.
Step 5:
Flip your paper over and then you will bring the sides of the square (that do not have the little squares) to line up in the center of your square. The fold will look kind of like a paper airplane.
Step 6
Turn your paper over and fold your flaps in the little squares out. These are going to be the legs of your frog! Now, bend the non-pointy side up to make a crease. You will have to have this line for the next step.
Step 7
On the airplane side, which is the non-pointy side, fold it up to the points. As you are doing that, two pockets will form. Put each side of the airplane, or the airplane flaps, into the pockets that formed.
Stem Activity Notes:
This is really when the science and STEM activity comes into play.
With every single fold you make you are making your frog thicker and thicker. When fold the thick parts over on itself, the paper wants to fix itself, that being flat.
With the different folds you did, you created a spring on the back of the frog. Once you push it down on your frog’s back you depress the spring where energy is then being stored.
Once you let go, BOING! Your from jumps into the air.
Kinetic Energy – Physics Experiment For Kids
STEM activities refer to any process that kids can do integrating concepts from science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM activities are great for helping kids bring scientific principles to life.
Today’s exploration into physics was inspired by Sylvan Learning. We fold paper to create potential energy and watch as it transforms into a kinetic jump – all with origami.
Sylvan Learning has a new after school enrichment programs titled Sylvan EDGE.
As part of that program kids do hands-on STEM projects after school. Kids can build robots from Legos, learn how to apply software to real-life scenarios, they can explore coding and even create their own video games or animated stories.
Origami Jumping Frog
Try your hand at making this super cute origami jumping frog. All you need for this origami craft is construction paper and some scissors. The best part is, once your kids make this origami jumping frog, they can play with it afterwards!
Materials
- Construction Paper
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Fold your paper in half and then fold it in half again. These lines will be your guide for the rest of the craft.
- You will then bring the sides to the center making a right angled triangle.
- You will then unfold it and repeat on the other side.
- When it is unfolded you should see X’s on each half of the paper.
- Pinch the top and the bottom of your triangles and then you fold the paper in on itself. Once you have done this to both sides you will be left with a triangle.
- You will take the flaps of the triangles you made and fold them up to the corner.
- Do the same on the other side.
- Flip your paper over and then you will bring the sides of the square (that do not have the little squares) to line up in the center of your square. The fold will look kind of like a paper airplane.
- Turn your paper over and fold your flaps in the little squares out. These are going to be the legs of your frog!
- Now, bend the non-pointy side up to make a crease. You will have to have this line for the next step.
- On the airplane side, which is the non-pointy side, fold it up to the points. As you are doing that, two pockets will form.
- Put each side of the airplane, or the airplane flaps, into the pockets that formed.
Notes
This is really when the science and STEM activity comes into play.
With every single fold you make you are making your frog thicker and thicker. When fold the thick parts over on itself, the paper wants to fix itself, that being flat.
With the different folds you did, you created a spring on the back of the frog. Once you push it down on your frog’s back you depress the spring where energy is then being stored.
Once you let go, BOING! Your from jumps into the air.
More Origami Fun From Kids Activities Blog
- Try making this origami wreath!
- Wow, this origami envelope is super cool!
- How adorable is this origami shark bookmark?
- I love all of these easy origami flowers.
- Oh my goodness! How precious are these origami owl projects?
- Here are the best origami crafts for kids.
- Aww, make a cute origami heart!
- Woah, take a look at this blinking origami eyeball.
- Make an origami fortune teller!
- Float away with this origami paper boat.
- Woof woof! This origami dog is so easy to make.
More Frog Crafts From Kids Activities Blog
Check out these frog games, crafts, and activities!
More Stem activities from Kids Activities Blog
- Have some fun and learn something new with this STEM cup stacking challenge!
How did your origami jumping frog turn out?
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