Origami · folding only

Jumping Frog

Growing (level 3 of 5)
15 min
12 steps
Ages 6–12 (a guide, not a rule)

No scissors
No glue
No adult help needed

Start Making Print

The jumping frog is a classic action model. The top of the paper collapses into a triangle head with front legs, and the body folds up and back down into a zigzag spring. Press the back edge and let your finger slip off: the spring snaps open and the frog hops. Stiff paper or an index card jumps best.

Before you start

You need

Rectangle of stiff paper or thin card, twice as long as it is wide, 75 x 150 mm (3 x 6 in). Colored on one side is nicest. A 3 x 5 in index card works too; the body is just a little shorter.
Marker for the eyes (optional)

Decorating (optional): Draw eyes, spots and a smile on the head.

No rectangle of stiff paper or thin card, twice as long as it is wide? No card? Ask an adult to cut a 7.5 x 15 cm (3 x 6 in) strip from a file folder or other stiff paper; stiffer paper makes a stronger spring. Half of a 15 cm (6 in) origami square is the right shape but jumps less.

Hop the frog on a table, away from faces and glasses.

How to place the paper before the first step — **Your paper:** Put the rectangle down tall and narrow, with the white side facing up.

Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
Mountain fold: pink dash-dot. Fold away from you, like a mountain.
Crease: a thin gray line where you folded before.
Turn over: flip the whole model to its other side.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

Do this

Result

Step 1 of 12 Fold and unfold Fold the top right corner down to the left edge, so the top edge lies along the left edge. Press, then unfold.
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Result

Step 2 of 12 Fold and unfold Fold the top left corner down to the right edge the same way. Press, then unfold. The two creases make an X.
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Result

Step 3 of 12 Fold and unfold Fold the top edge behind along a line through the middle of the X. Press, then unfold.
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Result

Step 4 of 12 Squash fold Push the two sides in at the ends of that last crease. The top folds down into a triangle on top of the body.
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Result

Step 5 of 12 Valley fold Make the front legs: fold the two bottom corners of the triangle's top layers up to its top point.
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Result

Step 6 of 12 Valley fold Fold the tip of each leg out to the side, along a slanted line from the bottom of the leg, so the feet stick out.
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Result

Step 7 of 12 Valley fold Fold the left and right sides of the body in to the middle. Slide them under the triangle at the top.
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Result

Step 8 of 12 Valley fold Fold the bottom edge up to meet the bottom of the triangle.
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Result

Step 9 of 12 Valley fold Fold that same flap back down in half, so its top edge meets the bottom fold. This zigzag is the frog's spring.
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Result

Step 10 of 12 Turn over Turn the frog over. The spring is now underneath, and the frog sits on it.
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Result

Step 11 of 12 Draw Draw two eyes and a wide smile on the head.
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Result

Step 12 of 12 Push Press the back edge of the frog down with one finger, then slide your finger off backward. The frog jumps!