You can make a boat out of a sheet of paper in just a few minutes. Just follow these steps.
Step
Step 1. Fold a 21.5 x 28 cm piece of paper in half, from top to bottom
HVS paper or white origami paper works best for making paper boats. This way of folding paper is called the "hamburger style". Draw a neat crease line.
Step 2. Unfold the paper, then fold it in half, from left to right
After you make the first fold (horizontally), fold the paper from one side to the other (vertical), crossing 2 fold lines in the center of the paper (see picture). When you are done, unfold the paper, then return it to the first fold (horizontally). By now your paper should be folded in half, with a vertical crease in the middle.
Step 3. Fold the top edges down, leaving the bottom of the paper about 2.5 - 5 cm
Take the two ends at the top, and fold them down so they meet at the vertical crease line in the middle. Use that crease line to line up the two ends you lowered.
Step 4. Fold the bottom of the paper up
At the bottom of the paper you will find two petals. Fold the top lid up until it's tangent to the base of the triangle. Turn the paper over, repeat this process for the lower petals. You get a paper hat at this point.
Step 5. Fold the ends of the two petals inward
On one side of the paper, fold the corners of the square--that stick out through the triangle--inward so that they are parallel to the sides of the triangle. Turn the paper over, repeat this process for the petals on the other side of the paper.
Step 6. Turn the triangle into a square
Use your fingers to open the bottom of the triangle. The shape should turn into a square, with the bottom edges of the triangle overlapping so that the bottom edges form a diamond.
Step 7. Fold the lower petals up
Arrange your paper so that the bottom edges of the diamond fold up. Fold one end, aligning it with the top end. Turn the paper over, repeat this process for the other side.
Step 8. Turn the triangle into a square once again
Open the bottom of your new triangle with your radius, just like before. The lower ends will align with each other to form the lower end of a diamond shape.
Step 9. Draw the triangles on both sides of the square
Start at the top of the diamond, and slowly separate the sides so that the layer in the center of the diamond is exposed. You can fold the sides of the boat up a little more so that the boat floats in the water and doesn't sink.
Step 10. Float your paper boat
Fill a small tub with water and place the paper boat over the water. If the ship appears to be starting to descend, adjust the sides to keep it up so it doesn't sink.
Tips
- Make good crease lines. Use a ruler or paper folder to make tight folds.
- Make sure the sides of the boat are parallel.
- If you float the paper boat on a large surface of water, such as a lake, you can attach string to one end. Hold on to the thread so the ship doesn't drift!
- Remember, the heavier the paper you use, the harder it will be to make a boat out of it.
- Make a paper boat that is waterproof! Use wax-coated paper, which you can get from a craft store, to make your boat last longer. Or, color one side of the paper--the whole--with crayon. You could also try making a boat out of aluminum foil.
Warning
- Don't leave a single hole in your paper boat. One small hole can turn into a big tear.
- Make sure the paper doesn't tear.
