DIY: Paper Spring Animals | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Paper Spring Animals

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Can paper animals really bounce and jump? It's not magic - it's science! In this DIY activity, we'll create springs using paper folding techniques to make small animals that jump when pressed. While crafting, learn how elastic potential energy converts to kinetic energy and explore the mysteries of elasticity!

Materials Needed

Card paper
Coloured paper
Double-sided tape
Marker pens
Fine-liner
Pencil
Scissors
Ruler

A flat lay arrangement of craft supplies on a light wood grain surface. The supplies include a sheet of light green paper, a roll of clear tape, three white markers with colored caps (light blue, pink, and yellow), a black pen, a blue pencil, a pair of scissors, and a clear plastic ruler. These items suggest preparation for a paper craft or similar activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Using marker pens, draw your favourite animal's head, arms and legs on the card paper.

On a piece of white paper against a light wooden background, simple, cartoon-like drawings of a bear, a rabbit, and a frog are being colored in. Each drawing is separated into parts – the head and limbs – as if to be cut out and assembled. A hand holding a light green marker is coloring in one of the frog's feet. The scene suggests a children's craft activity.

Step 2

Carefully cut out your drawn animals using scissors.

A pair of hands uses scissors to cut out the drawn and colored parts of a cartoon bear from a white sheet of paper. Above the bear, the cut-out pieces of a rabbit and frog are visible, all against a light wooden background. This image depicts a crafting activity involving cutting out paper shapes.

Step 3

Cut three 1cm x 3cm rectangular strips from the card paper.

Three small, identical white rectangular strips of paper lie on a light-colored wooden surface. Lines and text indicate their dimensions: 3cm long and 1cm wide. The image suggests they are prepared for a craft project.

Step 4

Next, take the coloured paper and cut two 3cm x 30cm rectangular strips.

Two identical, pale green rectangular strips of paper are placed horizontally and parallel to each other on a light wood-grained surface. They appear to be prepared for a craft or DIY project.

Step 5

Align one end of the rectangular strips vertically and stick them together.

Two hands are folding a pale green strip of paper against a light wood background. The fingers hold the paper delicately, creating a bend, likely as part of a paper craft or origami project.

Step 6

Following the diagram, fold the paper strips alternately until they can no longer cover the central square. Cut off any excess paper that extends beyond the central square.

Two hands manipulate two pale green strips of paper on a light wood background. One strip is vertical, and the other is being woven horizontally around it, suggesting the creation of a simple paper weave or craft project.

Step 7

Apply double-sided tape to the inside of the top strip and secure it to the strip below.

Hands hold a small, folded, light green paper object resembling a fan or flower. A clear plastic piece is attached at the top, likely securing the folds. The background is a light wood surface. The image suggests a stage in a paper craft project.

Step 8

Try pulling both ends - your paper spring is now complete. Make the remaining springs using the same method with different coloured paper.

Two hands hold a light green paper creation resembling a folded, zig-zagging ribbon or caterpillar. The paper is folded into multiple triangular segments. The background is a light wood surface, suggesting this is a paper craft project.

Step 9

Take the 1cm x 3cm rectangular strips from step 3 and fold them in half. Use double-sided tape to secure one end to the top of the paper spring.

Two hands hold a stack of folded, pale green paper squares. A piece of double-sided tape is being applied to one of the folded sections. The light wood background suggests a crafting or DIY project in progress.

Step 10

Take your cut-out animals and stick them to the other end of the 1cm x 3cm card strips using double-sided tape.

Hands hold a small paper craft of a frog. The frog's head is drawn and colored on light green paper, while its body is a folded, accordion-style stack of pale green paper. The light wood background suggests a children's craft or origami project.

Step 11

Attach the animal's limbs to the paper springs, and your paper spring animals are complete.

A completed paper craft frog sits on a light wood surface. The frog's head is a drawing on light green paper, while its body is formed from a folded, accordion-style stack of pale green paper. Small, drawn arms and feet complete the figure.

Step 12

Now touch the animals' heads and watch them jump!

Three small, handmade paper animal figures stand on a light wood surface. A hand reaches out to touch the first figure, a white rabbit with a red bow tie. The second figure is a brown bear, and the third is a green frog. Each animal's body is made from a folded, accordion-style stack of paper. The image evokes children's crafts or simple origami.

The Science Behind It:

Paper springs can jump because they store elastic potential energy. When you compress the paper spring, force causes it to deform and store energy. Once released, this energy quickly converts to kinetic energy, making the animals bounce. This works on the same principle as springs or bouncy balls, demonstrating how objects can store and release energy!

Who Are We?

We’re a passionate team of scientists, engineers, and educators dedicated to delivering hands-on fun. Our mission is to inspire creativity and confidence in the next generation of young innovators.