Build a Balloon...Out of Paper!

What You Need:

• Square piece of origami paper, in any color or pattern
• Water (optional)

What You Do:

Instruct your child in the following steps:

1. Fold the sheet of paper in half, into a rectangle.
2. Fold it again into a square.
3. Turn the square so that the fold is on the left (like a book), and slide your index finger into the flap into the uppermost corner of the fold. Press the flap down to create a triangle.

4. Turn the paper over and repeat.
5. Fold the bottom corners of the triangle up to the top, aligning each side with the center crease.

6. Turn the paper over and repeat, creating a diamond.
7. Fold the left and right corners in, so that the points are touching at the center crease.

8. Turn the paper over and repeat. You should now have a shape with six sides.
9. Fold the top left and right corners down and tuck them into the small pockets created in the previous step.

10. Turn the paper over and repeat.
11.  Now for the fun part! You are ready to blow air into the small hole at the bottom. It may take several tries to fully blow up the balloon.