How to Make a Jumping Origami Frog

HOW I GOT INTO ORIGAMI

My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Dykstra, was a big proponent of teaching us origami, and the first craft we ever made was a jumping origami frog. Although we learned many other crafts, something about the origami frogs really stayed with me, and to this day is the only origami craft I can remember how to make. After learning how to make these little frogs, my friends and I made many, many origami frogs, so they bring back many fond memories and I would love the opportunity to help other people to learn how to do these little guys!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

-A rectangular piece of paper (about a 1:2 ratio will work the best)
-You may need scissors in order to cut the paper to desired shape
-Hands

You begin by making two trianglular folds. If you paper is not double sided, start with the side you want on the exterior facing towards you. Take the top right corner of the page, and fold over so that what was the top edge of the paper is now in line with the left edge of the paper. Then, unfold so you now have a diagonal line going about halfway to the page. Repeat with the left side of the paper, so that it folds over to the right. You should now have an X shape on the top half of the paper.

Flip your paper over to the other side, and fold the top of the paper down so that there is now a horizontal line through the center of the X, then unfold.

Flip your paper over again, so that the side you want on the exterior is now facing towards you. Placing your fingers on the horizontal line, start pushing in both sides of the horizontal line, so that the X folds in on itself. This should make a new triangle shape at the top of the paper, with the other part of the top square folded in on itself. The paper should now be in a pentagon shape.

Flip your paper over, so that you can see the triangle from the last step, with the rest of the paper in the back. Taking the left corner flap of the triangle, fold over a small triangle, so that the former left corner now lines up with the top corner. Now, you should have a triangle faced sideways, making a straight line down the center of the triangle. Repeat with the right side, meeting the two sideways triangles directly in the center.

Folding the left edge of the frog, fold into the middle, so that the former left edge is now a center line. Repeat with the right side, once again meeting in the center.

Flipping the paper over again, create a fold about 3/5 of the way up from the bottom of the frog. Then, take the long flap from the fold you just created and fold it again, about halfway down the flap. You now have your finished product!

If you would like to make the frog jump, just press lightly on the back of the frog, and it should jump! However, it may be a bit wild where it jumps.