A classic, easy toy to create. Great for kids! Minimal parental supervision recommended.
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Step 1: Gather Your Materials
All you need for this project is a standard, 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. Printer paper is perfect!
Step 2: The First Fold
Lay your paper out vertically on a flat surface. Then, fold your paper from top to bottom("hamburger").
Step 3: The Midline
Make sure your paper rectangle is placed horizontally in your space, with the open end facing you. Make a crease from left to right, then unfold it. You should now have a horizontal rectangle with a crease down the middle.
Step 4: Making the Triangle
Using the center crease as a guide, fold the top left corner down to touch the midline. Then, fold the right corner down to match. You should have a triangle with an excess rectangle at the bottom, about 1.5 inches long.
Step 5: Folding the Excess Rectangle
To fold up the excess paper underneath the triangle, begin by grabbing the top layer of the rectangle. Fold it up to where it touches the triangle. Flip the paper over and repeat this step with the bottom layer.
Step 6: Fold the Edges
Your paper should look like a triangle with excess paper on the sides, somewhat resembling a hat. Take the excess paper and fold it over the edge of the triangle. You finally have a paper triangle!
Step 7: Flip It Inside Out!
Grab the paper triangle and hold it upside down by the open sides. Put one hand on each side of the "hat" and gently pull the sides away from each other. The paper should naturally flatten into a square.
Step 8: Another Triangle!
Lay the square flat on a surface with the open side facing you. It should look like a diamond. Grab the top flap of the diamond and fold it up into a triangle shape. Flip the diamond over and repeat this step with the bottom flap. You should have a smaller triangle now.
Step 9: Another Square
Lay your triangle out so the longest side is facing you. Grab the two flaps and open them up. The triangle should open and reveal another square!
Step 10: Open Your Boat
Rotate your square so it looks like a diamond with two open flaps on top. Gently pull the flaps apart to reveal your new paper boat!
Step 11: Test the Waters
Take your new boat for a whirl in the sink, bathtub, pool, or lake!