How to Make a Paper Spring
March 14, 2010
How to Make a Paper Spring
Here is the How-to-Make-a-Paper-Spring hand-out that goes along with the photos in the previous post. Not only is this little structure delightful and satisfying for children to make, but I have also been told that it is a great OT (Occupational Therapy) activity which helps develop fine motor skills, and supports eye/hand development. In any case it is fun!
Years ago, before there was a glut of ad-filled “how-to”s on the internet, I came across another version of the paper spring; the page was translated from German. Instead of using two strips of paper, the author described using one long narrow strip of paper, which he folded in the middle to create a right angle. He proceeded in a way that is consistent with my directions. This way of making the spring is less colorful, but, otherwise, it is an elegant structure. The author of the article called the paper spring a Mouse Ladder. Mouse Ladder. I like that name.
I also made a B&W Paper Spring hand-out.
August 25, 2010 at 12:22 pm
cool!
September 13, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Thanks!
January 19, 2011 at 9:22 am
[...] My next post will be a how-to handout on how to make a paper spring. But, simply put, attach, at a right angle, the ends of two equal strips of paper. Alternately fold one strip over the other until you run out of paper. That’s all. If you like, take a look on page 31 of a book I co-authored for Scholastic; here you will find more complete directions. Or wait unti my next post, which will be an instruction sheet for the paper spring. [...]
February 6, 2013 at 10:44 am
[...] I was a kid, I remember making paper springs. You’d take two thin strips of paper, overlap them to create a weave of sorts, apply glue where …: You had a springy object suitable for use as a pig’s tail to complete that weekend’s [...]