Build with folded paper
Fold a sheet into a bridge, a little roof, or a shape of your own. See what it can do, then change it.
About this project
Paper does not have to stay flat. A few folds can turn a loose sheet into something you can build with. A low bridge is one starting arrangement; a roof, a small stage, or an entirely different structure may be more interesting to you.
Supplies
Materials & tools
- Two or three sheets of scrap paper, roughly notebook or printer-paper size
- Two stable supports of the same height, such as upside-down paper cups or small folded cardboard blocks
- A few light cardboard scraps if you want something to put on the structure
- A ruler or a marked paper strip if you want to compare gaps
Before you start
- Work on a table where the paper can fall flat. Choose two low cups or blocks that stand firmly without tipping.
- These little paper builds are for light tabletop play. Keep people, pets, heavy things, and hot things off them.
Instructions
Leave a small gap
Put the two cups or blocks about 10 cm apart on the table. Lay a sheet across them. Let several centimetres of paper rest on each support. See how it sits. If an end slips off, bring the supports closer. You do not need to put anything on top.
Fold the paper back and forth
Take the sheet off the supports. Fold one edge over by about 2 cm and press the crease. Turn the sheet over. Fold the folded edge over by another 2 cm, then turn the sheet over again. Keep repeating. You will have a zigzag shape, like a paper fan. This is an accordion fold.
The fold lines run from one support to the other. Rest both ends on the cups, leaving a clear gap underneath. Set the folded paper across the gap
Pull the folded paper open a little so the zigzag ridges still stand up. Turn it so each long crease runs from one support to the other, as in the drawing. Rest both ends firmly on the supports. Move the supports or open the folds until it stays put. If you want, place one light card scrap near the middle. Take it off if a support starts to tip.
Build from the shape you have
Look from the end and from the side. Is the paper bending, twisting, or opening out? Change a fold, add a support, or try a new shape. It might become a roof or stage instead of a bridge. Paper that falls flat can be folded again or used somewhere else.
Troubleshooting
- The paper keeps sliding off.
- Bring the supports closer together and leave more overlap at both ends. Check that the supports stand level rather than relying on tape to hold a tipping cup.
- The folds flatten out.
- Press the creases again and pull the paper open less. Bring the supports closer. Soft or damp paper may need to dry or be replaced.
- The supports tip over.
- Take off anything you added. Try lower, wider supports. You can build with the folded paper without putting things on top.
Where to take it next
- Make a curved sheet, a folded channel, or a rolled tube and find a use for it in your structure.
- Build a little shelter or stage with several folded pieces. Decide what it needs rather than trying to beat a weight record.
- If you want to compare two shapes, use similar paper and the same gap so you can see the effect of the shape more clearly.
A closer look
A flat sheet bends easily. Folds hold parts of the sheet above and below each other, so the sheet bends in a different way. The fold direction, paper, and supports all matter. A fold is one way to give paper a useful shape, not a promise that it can hold anything.
What happens if…
- What could this folded shape become?
- Where does it bend or unfold?
- What happens if the folds run in another direction?
What it needs to do
A function can have more than one solution. These options belong to this example; try alternatives thoughtfully.
folded beam
Use a sheet or thin card that folds comfortably. Compare similar thicknesses before attributing a change to shape.
support
Use two stable cups or low folded cardboard supports. These are starting ideas; make sure they do not tip or slide.
measuring
Compare the span before and after changing the bridge. A marked paper strip can also record the gap without a numbered measurement.