Frog origami: how to fold a paper frog step by step

Paper frogs either hop or sit there, and the difference rarely comes from the order of the folds. It comes from paper stiffness and crease quality, which is why a plain index card outjumps a sheet of fancy origami paper. Knowing what each fold does tells you how to fix a frog that sits still, keep one from flipping onto its back, and teach the model to a group of kids without losing anyone at the tricky collapse in the middle. Once one frog works, a whole pond takes an afternoon.

A paper frog jumps because of one Z-shaped pleat folded under its body. Press the back edge to compress it, slide your finger off, and it snaps open and throws the frog forward. Folded in ten steps from a 3 x 5 inch (7.6 x 12.7 cm) index card, it is an easy origami model and a reliable first fold.

Cards and tools for a jumping frog

The classic jumping frog needs one rectangular card, roughly 3 by 5 in proportion, and a hard, flat surface to fold on. Stiff card stores more spring than thin paper, so an index card outperforms copy paper. Everything else in the table below is optional: a tool for sharper creases and something to decorate with.

Index cards come in packs of 100 at Walmart, Target and Staples, or online from Amazon, so one pack covers a classroom of frog races. Colored cards save a step, since the frog is green before you pick up a marker.

Standard origami paper, the thin 6-inch (15 cm) squares sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby, makes a different version with folded back legs; this illustrated square-paper jumping frog tutorial runs to 22 steps. Thin paper gives a softer spring, so for distance the index card remains the better choice.

Card orientation and the fold terms used here

Place the card vertically on a hard table, short edges at the top and bottom, before you make the first fold. Every crease in this model guides a later step, so press each one firmly with a fingernail or bone folder. A soft or slightly crooked crease early on is what makes the head collapse lopsided.

A few origami terms appear in the steps. A valley fold bends the paper toward you; a mountain fold bends it away, which is the same as turning the card over and making a valley fold. "Crease and unfold" means you fold, press hard, then open the paper flat again, leaving a guide line for a later step.

A collapse is the move that trips up most beginners: you push the paper along existing creases so several of them fold at once. Here it turns the top of the card into a triangle called a waterbomb base. A pleat is a pair of opposite folds that form a Z when seen from the side. The pleat is the frog's spring.

Decorate after you fold, not before. The card turns over twice during the sequence, so it is hard to predict which face ends up on the frog's back until you have folded one.

How to fold a paper frog step by step

The fold has two stages: shaping the head and front legs from the top square of the card, then turning the rest of the card into the body and the pleat that makes the frog jump. Expect three to five minutes once you know the sequence, and closer to ten minutes on your very first frog.

Head and front legs

1. Make the first diagonal. Fold the top-left corner down so the top edge lies along the right edge of the card, forming a triangle. Crease firmly and unfold.
2. Make the second diagonal. Fold the top-right corner down to the left edge the same way, crease and unfold. You now have an X across the top square of the card; its lower ends touch the side edges 3 inches below the top.
3. Add the horizontal crease. Turn the card over. Fold the top edge down to the lower ends of the X, so the new crease passes through the center of the X. Crease, unfold and turn the card back over.
4. Mark the center line. Fold the card in half lengthwise, long edge to long edge, crease and unfold. Do not skip this crease: step 7 folds both sides of the body to it.
5. Collapse the head. Push the two ends of the horizontal crease toward each other. The diagonals fold inward, the top edge drops down, and the top square flattens into a triangle sitting on the body, like the roof of a house. Press it flat.
6. Fold the front legs. On the top layer of the triangle only, fold the left and right side points up to the triangle's top point. These two small flaps are the front legs.

Body and spring

1. Narrow the body. Fold the left side of the body in so its edge meets the center crease from step 4, then repeat with the right side. The folds run from the bottom edge up to the base of the head; slide the top ends of both strips under the edges of the head triangle so the triangle and front legs stay on top.
2. Fold the body up. With the head side up, fold the bottom edge up onto that side until it meets the top of the model, the point of the head, and crease. For a moment the folded body covers the head and front legs; the next step folds half of it back down.
3. Form the spring. Fold the top layer only back down so its edge meets the bottom fold you just made. The tip of the head shows again, and the body now carries a Z-shaped pleat. Crease it, but do not press it completely flat; this pleat is what launches the frog.
4. Turn it over. Flip the frog so the pleat sits underneath. The pointed head is now the front of the frog. Draw the eyes and markings now.

Launching your frog

To launch the frog, set it on a smooth table, press your fingertip down on its back edge until the pleat flattens, then slide your finger off backward. The released pleat snaps open and pushes the frog up and forward. A firm, quick slide works better than a slow press followed by a lift.

Hard, smooth surfaces give the best results: a kitchen table, a wood floor or a sheet of cardboard. Carpet and tablecloths absorb the push, so the frog barely moves.

A few frog games keep the project going after the folding is done:

• Long jump: tape a start line to the table and measure each frog's best of three jumps with a ruler.
• Target practice: set paper cupcake liners or small bowls at different distances and give each one a point value.

The jumping frog also builds skills you will reuse. The waterbomb base from step 5 starts dozens of other models. OrigamiUSA, the national origami society, publishes a free collection of PDF diagrams and rates models by difficulty, which helps you choose the next fold that matches your level.

When the frog sits still, veers or flips over

Sitting still, landing upside down and drifting sideways each trace back to a specific fold or to the way you press, and you can usually correct them without refolding. Check the creases first, then the pleat, then where your finger lands. Paper only becomes the culprit when it is copy paper or thinner.

• It barely moves. The creases are too soft or the pleat was pressed flat. Go over every fold with a bone folder, then lift the top layer of the pleat slightly so the frog sits at a gentle angle.
• It flips onto its back. The pleat is usually too deep, or you are pressing too far forward on the back. Make the spring smaller by refolding the top layer from step 9 a little lower, and press at the very back edge.
• It veers to one side. The head is off center, usually because one diagonal from steps 1 and 2 missed the edge. The triangle's point should sit centered on the body; on the next frog, line the edges up before you crease.
• The head will not collapse. The horizontal crease from step 3 was made on the same side as the diagonals, so the creases fight each other. Turn the card over and crease it again in the other direction.
• It squashes instead of springing. You are pressing the middle of the back. Press only the rear edge.
• It jumped well, then weakened. After a dozen or so launches the pleat softens. Pinch both of its folds again to restore the snap.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a jumping frog from a business card?

Yes. A standard US business card measures 2 x 3 1/2 inches (5 x 9 cm), close to the proportion of an index card, and its heavy stock makes a lively spring. Follow the same ten steps. The frog comes out smaller, so the collapse in step 5 takes more care, and coated or glossy cards can crack along sharp creases.

How do you make a big origami frog?

Use a larger card with a similar proportion, such as a 5 x 8 inch (12.7 x 20.3 cm) index card, or cut cardstock to a rectangle about one and two-thirds times as long as it is wide. The steps do not change. A large frog made from thin paper jumps poorly, so keep the material stiff as the size goes up.

Is there an origami frog that doesn't jump?

Yes. The traditional origami frog folded from the frog base is a display model with long, slender legs, and it does not jump. It is noticeably harder than the jumping frog, starts from a square and requires precise petal folds, so it suits folders who are comfortable with collapses.

What does an origami frog symbolize?

In Japanese, the word for frog, kaeru, sounds the same as the verb meaning "to return." Frogs are therefore associated with safe returns and with money or luck coming back, and small frog charms are a common good-luck gift in Japan. A paper frog makes a simple send-off token for someone leaving on a trip.

How can you use paper frogs in a classroom?

Jumping frogs turn into a quick measurement lesson. Students record three jumps per frog with a ruler or tape measure, calculate the average, and graph the class results. Changing a single variable, such as the card size or the depth of the pleat, turns the activity into a simple controlled experiment.

Your first frog teaches the sequence; the second and third teach the feel of a good crease and a lively pleat. Fold three frogs from the same pack of index cards, change only the pleat size from step 9, and race them to see which spring you prefer. When the jumping frog feels automatic, move to the square-paper version with folded back legs, which builds on the same head collapse and spring pleat. From there, the waterbomb base you practiced in step 5 leads to other models such as the inflatable waterbomb balloon and a simple origami tulip.