Jumping Frog

A frog from a 2¾ × 4¾ in card: a triangle head, front legs, and a spring made of two folds underneath. Press the edge of its back with your finger and let go — it jumps. Make two and have a race.

• Medium
• 18 steps
• 2 pieces
• 1 Letter sheet

Make it with your phone cameraLesson code: 1726

On VanGami the template appears over your sheet through your phone camera — no printer needed. Trace it, cut, fold and glue. Below are all the steps in text.

What you’ll need

• Letter sheet — office paper, 80 gsm (20 lb)
• Markers
• Pencil — and eraser
• Ruler — 8–12 in
• Scissors — small
• Glass — phone stand

Steps

Trace

1. First frog: outline. Trace the rectangle with a ruler: 2⅞ × 4⅝ in. You’ll cut along these lines.
2. First frog: folds. Draw the lines with a ruler and add the numbers: a cross in a square (1), a line across through the center of the cross (2), two lines lengthwise (3) and two across near the other edge (4 and 5).
3. Second frog: outline. The second rectangle — with a ruler, the same size.
4. Second frog: folds. The same numbered lines — with a ruler.

Color

5. Green. The parts are drawn on the back, but the color belongs on the front: turn the sheet over and color the whole area under the parts in this color, then turn the sheet back.

Cut

6. Cut out: first frog. Cut with scissors along the solid line. Turn the sheet, not the scissors — the cut will come out neater.
7. Cut out: second frog. Cut with scissors along the solid line. Turn the sheet, not the scissors — the cut will come out neater.

Fold

8. Cross — lines 1. Lay the card lines up, with the cross at the far end. Fold along one line 1 so that the top edge lies on the side edge, crease, and unfold. Do the same along the other one.
9. Line 2 — back. Line 2 runs across through the center of the cross. Fold along it backward: the top of the card goes down underneath. Crease and unfold.
10. Triangle. Hold the card by the ends of line 2 and bring them in toward each other: the sides of the square fold inward and the top lies down on top. Press flat — you’ll get a triangle on a rectangle.
11. Front legs. Fold a bottom corner of the triangle — top layer only — up to the tip. Do the same with the other one. You get a small diamond — these are the front legs.
12. Sides to the middle (lines 3). Fold the sides of the rectangle along lines 3 to the middle: the edges meet in the center. Leave the triangle alone.
13. Spring — lines 4 and 5. Fold the bottom up along line 4: the edge lies on the base of the triangle. Then fold the top half of this flap back down: edge to the bottom fold. That’s the spring.
14. Flip it over. Turn the frog over. The spring will open a little — the frog stands on it, with its back raised.

Eyes

15. Draw the eyes. On the triangle head, draw two eyes with a marker — circles with pupils. You can add a mouth and spots.
16. Second frog, the same way. Fold the second frog the same way: cross, line 2, triangle, legs, sides, spring — and eyes.

Jump

17. The jump. Put your finger on the edge of its back, above the spring, press down and slide your finger off backward — the frog will hop.
18. Race. Line the frogs up side by side at the start and press at the same time. Whichever jumps farther wins.

Done. The frogs are done. Line them up at the start and press at the same time — whose will jump farther? Crease the spring harder for a higher jump.

Make it with your phone camera

More in Dolls & toys

Paper MakeupMediumMagic CircleHardPaper PhoneEasyDress-Up Doll: Gamer GirlMediumDress-Up Doll: SwordsmanMediumBlind BagMedium