DIY: Jumping Rabbit | Tinkerer Box Blog

DIYs » Stem Activities » Marvelous Mechanics Motion » Age 6 - 8 » Jumping Rabbit

Jumping Rabbit

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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3, 2, 1, Hop! Easter isn't just about finding eggs - it's a perfect opportunity to let creativity and joy "hop" together! Make your own jumping rabbit, explore energy transformation, and dance joyfully to welcome spring!

Materials Needed

White card
Paper cups
Scissors
Double-sided tape
Pencil
Rubber bands
Marker pens
Ruler

A flatlay image displays an assortment of craft or school supplies arranged on a light wood-grained table. The items include a blank sheet of white paper, a small yellow disposable cup, a roll of clear tape, a pair of linked rubber bands, a pair of black scissors, a pencil, three white markers with colored caps (light blue, red, and yellow), and a clear plastic ruler. The scene suggests preparation for a creative project or activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Fold the card in half.

Two hands, partially covered by dark sleeves, hold a sheet of white paper that is being folded in half. The paper rests on a light wood-grained surface. The image captures the moment of the fold, with the top portion of the paper lifted and about to be creased against the bottom portion. This simple action suggests the beginning of a paper craft, origami, or letter-writing activity.

Step 2

Using a pencil, draw rabbit ears and feet on the folded card.

On a light wood-grained surface, a piece of folded white paper lies flat. One hand holds the paper steady while the other hand, holding a pencil, draws small, simple shapes on it. Two shapes are already visible: one resembles a rounded rectangle or a mitten, and the other looks like a three-petal flower or a simplified paw print. The image suggests the initial steps of drawing or designing something, possibly a craft project.

Step 3

Cut out the rabbit ears and feet. You will get 2 sets of ears and feet.

Two hands are engaged in a paper-cutting activity on a light wood-grained table. One hand holds a folded piece of white paper on which a mitten-like shape and a three-petal flower or paw print shape are lightly drawn. The other hand holds a pair of scissors and is in the process of cutting along the edge of the paper. The image captures a moment of crafting or creating a paper cutout.

Step 4

Fold the bottom of the rabbit ears inward by 0.5cm.

Two hands delicately fold a small strip of white paper. The paper, with a slightly rounded edge on one side, is being folded precisely. A black bracket and the text 0.5cm indicate a small, specific measurement for the fold, emphasizing the precision required for this step, likely part of a paper craft or origami project. The background is a light wood-grained surface.

Step 5

Use markers to colour the rabbit ears.

On a light wooden surface, two elongated, rounded paper cutouts, resembling animal ears, are being colored. One hand holds a light-colored marker with an orange tip and is applying a light pink or peach color to the inner part of one cutout. The other hand is positioned near the other cutout, which has already been colored similarly. The image suggests a crafting activity, possibly making animal ears for a costume or decoration.

Step 6

Take a paper cup and place it upside down. Draw the rabbit's face on the cup using markers.

Against a light wood-grained background, two hands hold a white paper cup. A simple, cartoonish animal face is being drawn on the cup. One hand holds the cup while the other hand uses a marker to add red details, likely rosy cheeks, to the face. The drawing consists of short vertical lines for eyes, a small triangle for a nose, a curved line for a mouth, and three parallel red lines on each side for the cheeks. The image captures the process of decorating or personalizing a simple paper cup.

Step 7

Apply double-sided tape to the folded sections of the ears and attach them to the cup's top. Then stick the feet to the bottom of the cup.

On a light-colored wooden table sits a white paper cup decorated with a cute animal face, featuring simple eyes, nose, mouth, and rosy cheeks. One ear-shaped cutout is already attached to the cup. Two hands are in the foreground, preparing to attach the second ear cutout, which has a small folded piece at its base, presumably for gluing or taping. This image shows the final stages of a simple craft project, creating an animal-themed cup.

Step 8

Next, turn the cup right side up. Use a pencil to mark 4 points around the cup's rim as shown.

Two hands interact with a white paper cup on a light wood-grained surface. The cup is viewed from above, showing its interior. One hand holds the cup while the other hand uses a pencil to poke a small hole near the rim. Four red circles highlight locations around the rim of the cup, indicating designated spots for creating holes, likely for a crafting project. Small, white, wing-like shapes are visible on the sides of the cup, suggesting it's being transformed into an animal or creature.

Step 9

Using scissors, cut 0.3cm notches inward at the marked points.

Two hands are manipulating a white paper cup on a light wood-grained surface. One hand holds the cup, which is viewed from above, revealing its interior. The other hand holds a pair of scissors and is in the process of making a cut inside the cup. Small, white, wing-like decorations are visible on the side of the cup. This suggests a craft activity where the cup is being modified or prepared for a specific purpose.

Step 10

Tie two rubber bands together as shown.

Against a light wood-grained background, two hands are shown manipulating a small blue rubber band and a smaller pink rubber band. The blue rubber band is larger and forms a loop. The pink rubber band is threaded through the blue one, creating a small linked section. The hands appear to be in the process of connecting or weaving the rubber bands together, likely as part of a small craft or activity like making a bracelet or other item from rubber bands.

Step 11

Then, secure the rubber bands into the notches you cut in the cup.

Two hands hold a white paper cup against a light wood-grained background. Pink and blue rubber bands are stretched across the opening of the cup, intersecting in the center. The rubber bands appear to be holding something in place or creating a type of launcher or catapult mechanism. Small cuts or slits are visible in the rim of the cup, likely made to accommodate the rubber bands. A small, pointed object protrudes from the bottom of the cup, possibly a piece of plastic or wood, adding to the impression that this is a homemade device or toy.

Step 12

Take another paper cup as a base and place it upside down. Put the rabbit cup on the base, press down and release - watch your rabbit jump!

Two hands play with a small toy made from paper cups. The top cup is white and decorated with a cute, hand-drawn bunny face, complete with pink ears and small paws. A thin blue band is wrapped around the bottom of the white cup. The white cup sits on top of an orange paper cup. The hands gently push the sides of the white cup, causing it to pop up and off the orange cup, like a simple jumping toy. The video demonstrates a fun and easy craft activity using paper cups to create a small, jumping bunny toy.

The Science Behind It:

The rabbit's jumping involves the conversion between elastic potential energy and kinetic energy. When rubber bands are stretched, their molecular chains elongate, storing elastic potential energy. When released, the rubber bands quickly return to their original length, converting the stored elastic potential energy into kinetic energy, which propels the object upward.

The speed and distance of the launched object directly correlates with how far the rubber bands are stretched—the further the stretch, the more elastic potential energy is stored, resulting in more energy being released and the object flying further or faster.

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