Introduction: Jumping Frog

About: The Maker Studio is a museum makerspace at Science City in Kansas City, MO. To see more of our creations follow us on Instagram @The_Maker_Studio or @ScienceCityKC

The jumping frog is a simple toy that can be made from supplies that you probably have sitting around your house already.

Supplies

  • 2 plastic cups. I used green because we're making frogs, but you can use any color you have on hand.
  • 2 rubber bands
  • 2 googly eyes.
  • Construction, or other paper in various colors
  • Masking tape
  • Hot glue gun
  • Pen or pencil
  • Scissors

Step 1: Putting Rubber Bands on Your Cup

Take one of your rubber bands and stretch it over your cup lengthwise. Take your second rubber band and also stretch it over the cup, so they cross each other over the opening of the cup. Take some of your masking tape and tape the rubber bands to the cup. This step isn't necessary, but will make your rubber bands stay on much easier.

Step 2: Add Legs to Your Frog

For this step take 2 strips of construction paper that are about an inch wide, and however long you want them to be. You'll accordion fold both strips of the paper. These folded strips will be the legs of your frog. After you've folded them, tape them near the bottom of your frog.

Step 3: Make and Add Feet

For the next step, take a different color of paper and draw out some feet for your frog. Then cut the feet out and tape them to the bottom of the legs.

Step 4: Glue on Eyes

Next we'll glue the eyes onto our frog. Take your 2 googly eyes, and put a bead of hot glue on the back of both of them. Then attach them to the top of your frog.

Step 5: Fling Your Frog

Now it's time to launch your frog. Take him and put him on top of the second cup. Pull your frog down so that the rubber bands are being stretched out. Whenever you're ready, let go of your frog and watch him fly!