Make An Origami Jumping Frog

What can I use if I don't have square origami paper or a ruler?

If you don't have square origami paper, make a square from printer paper by folding one corner to the opposite edge and cutting off the excess so you can place the square paper color side down, and if you don't have a ruler use a folded paper strip or tape to measure the distance.

My frog won't jump—which step is most likely the problem and how do I fix it?

If the frog won't jump, make sure you press a strong crease on the bottom edge and especially push the back end up sharply to form the spring in the step that tells you to 'push the back end up sharply', and confirm the triangle feet are folded outward in steps 7–8 so the legs can snap forward.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger kids, use a larger square of cardstock and pre-crease key folds like 'fold the paper in half' and 'fold the top two corners down' so they can focus on decorating and pressing the jump, while older kids can use thin origami paper for crisper springs, add small weights or tweak the 'fold the whole frog in half away from you' technique, and record precise jumps with the ruler.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the jumping frog activity?

Extend the activity by decorating each frog with colouring materials and stickers, adding a small paperclip to the back to change jump distance, creating obstacle courses or start/finish lines to measure the distance, and sharing photos and scores on DIY.org.