Summer Camp for Kids: Paper Plate Frisbees are a fantastic way to bring the fun of the outdoors inside, or to add a creative twist to actual outdoor play! Imagine a brightly colored, perfectly balanced disc, ready to fly through the air or simply sit as a cheerful decoration. These are super simple to make and perfect for complete beginners and little hands, taking only about 15-20 minutes from start to finish. Whether you’re looking for a fun summer craft, a quick and easy gift for a friend, or just a way to spend a rainy afternoon, these paper plate frisbees are the answer. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to transform a humble paper plate into a spinning sensation, discovering simple folding techniques that are both satisfying and surprisingly effective for creating a functional, fun toy.
Summer Camp for Kids: Paper Plate Frisbees – Make and Takes
Hello campers and crafty creators! Welcome to our fun-filled origami session. Today, we’re going to transform simple paper plates into fantastic frisbees that are perfect for playing fetch in the park, having a catch in the backyard, or even just for decorating your room with a touch of summer flair. These are super easy to make, perfect for little hands with a little bit of grown-up help, and a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon or a sunny camp day. We call them “Make and Takes” because you make them, and then you get to take them home and play with them!
Choosing Your Paper Plate Canvas
The magic of origami starts with the right paper. For our paper plate frisbees, we’re not actually using paper plates at all, but rather special paper that folds just like one! Think of it as a paper plate in disguise.
The Perfect Paper Plate Paper
The type of paper we’ll be using is called “origami paper.” You might also see it labeled as “kami” paper.
* **Type:** Origami paper is specifically designed for folding. It’s usually a bit thinner than regular printer paper but much stronger and more durable. This is important because our frisbee needs to withstand a bit of a toss!
* **Weight:** The weight of origami paper is often measured in grams per square meter (gsm). For this project, a weight between 70gsm and 90gsm is ideal. It’s substantial enough to hold its shape but light enough to fly. If your paper is too thin, the frisbee might be flimsy. If it’s too thick, it will be hard to fold neatly.
* **Size:** Standard origami paper comes in squares. The most common size is 15cm x 15cm (about 6 inches x 6 inches). This size is perfect for our frisbees, creating a good-sized disc that’s easy to handle. You can certainly use larger squares, but be aware that the frisbee will be bigger and might fly differently. Smaller squares will make smaller frisbees.
* **Single or Double Sided:** For our frisbees, you can use either single-sided or double-sided origami paper.
* **Single-sided:** This type has a coloured or patterned side and a white or plain side. If you use single-sided paper, decide which side you want to be the “top” of your frisbee. I usually like the coloured side to be on the outside when it’s finished.
* **Double-sided:** This paper has a different colour or pattern on each side. This is fantastic for frisbees as you get a burst of colour on both the top and bottom!
Mastering the Base Folds: The Foundation of Your Frisbee
Before we dive into the frisbee itself, let’s practice a couple of fundamental folds that we’ll use. Getting these right will make the whole process smoother and your frisbee stronger.
The Valley Fold: A Gentle Crease
A valley fold is like folding a book. You bring two edges or corners together, and the crease you make forms a “valley” shape when you unfold it.
To make a clean valley fold:
1. Start with your paper flat in front of you.
2. Decide which edges or corners you want to bring together.
3. Carefully align them. This is the most important step for a clean fold! Make sure they match up perfectly.
4. Once aligned, gently press down along the edge where they meet.
5. Use your fingernail or a bone folder (if you have one) to run along the crease, smoothing it out firmly. This makes the crease sharp and neat.
The Mountain Fold: The Opposite of a Valley
A mountain fold is the opposite of a valley fold. When you unfold it, the crease looks like a “mountain” peak sticking up.
To make a clean mountain fold:
1. You’ll usually make a mountain fold *after* you’ve already made a valley fold along the same line. So, first, make the valley fold as described above.
2. Then, unfold the paper. You’ll see a crease.
3. Now, you want to fold the paper *away* from you along that same crease.
4. Bring the two edges or corners that met in the valley fold back together, but this time, push the crease *upwards*.
5. Again, use your fingernail to firmly crease the fold.
Your Step-by-Step Frisbee Folding Adventure
Alright, let’s get folding! Remember to be patient with yourself, and if a fold doesn’t look quite right the first time, it’s okay to gently unfold and try again. That’s the beauty of paper – it’s forgiving!
1. Start with your square piece of origami paper. If you’re using single-sided paper, place it on your work surface with the white side facing up. This white side will eventually be the inside of your frisbee.
2. Bring the bottom edge up to meet the top edge exactly. Align the corners and edges perfectly. Make a sharp valley fold across the middle. Your paper is now a rectangle.
3. Keep the paper folded. Now, bring the bottom edge of this rectangle up to meet the top edge. Again, align everything carefully. Make another sharp valley fold. You should now have a smaller square.
4. Unfold the last fold you made. You should have a rectangle with a horizontal crease in the middle.
5. Now, turn your paper over. You should see a single horizontal crease running across the middle.
6. Bring the left edge of the paper over to meet the right edge. Align them precisely. Make a sharp valley fold down the middle. Your paper is now a taller, thinner rectangle.
7. Bring the bottom edge of this tall rectangle up to meet the top edge. Align carefully. Make a sharp valley fold. You should now have a square. This square has creases that divide it into four smaller squares.
8. Unfold the last fold you made. You should have a tall, thin rectangle with a horizontal crease.
9. Now, look at your paper. You should see one horizontal crease and one vertical crease that meet in the center, dividing your paper into four smaller squares.
10. Take the bottom left corner of the paper. Bring this corner up to meet the exact center point where the creases cross. Make a sharp valley fold.
11. Repeat step 10 with the bottom right corner. Bring this corner up to meet the center point. Make a sharp valley fold. You should now have a shape that looks a bit like a house with a pointed roof.
12. Now, carefully unfold the two corner folds you just made. Your paper will go back to being a rectangle with a horizontal crease, but you’ll now have two diagonal creases leading from the bottom corners up to the center.
13. Flip your paper over so the side with the horizontal crease and the two diagonal creases (that meet in the center) is facing you.
14. Take the entire bottom edge of the paper and bring it up to meet the horizontal crease in the middle. Align the edge perfectly with the crease. Make a sharp valley fold. Your paper is now a rectangle again.
15. Now, you should see two flaps on the bottom. Take the bottom edge of the *right* flap. Bring this edge up to meet the center vertical crease. Align it carefully and make a sharp valley fold.
16. Repeat step 15 with the bottom edge of the *left* flap. Bring this edge up to meet the center vertical crease. Align it carefully and make a sharp valley fold. Your paper should now look like a kite shape with a blunt top.
17. Take the pointed top of the kite shape. Fold this point down so it meets the horizontal line formed by the tops of the two flaps you just folded in. Make a sharp valley fold. This locks those flaps in place.
18. Now, flip the entire model over.
19. Take the entire left edge of the model and bring it over to meet the entire right edge. Align them perfectly. Make a very sharp valley fold down the middle. Your model should now be a long, thin rectangle.
20. You will see a small triangular flap sticking out on one side (this was the point you folded down in step 17). Take this triangular flap and tuck it *underneath* the layer of paper you just folded over. This helps to hold the frisbee together. You might need to gently lift the top layer a tiny bit to tuck it in.
21. Now, carefully unfold the last fold you made in step 19. You should have your model open up again, but with a new crease down the middle.
22. Hold the model with the “kite” shape facing you and the triangular flap tucked away. You’ll see the center crease. Gently push the two sides of the model *apart* along this center crease, creating a “valley.” The frisbee is starting to take shape! As you do this, the side edges of the frisbee will naturally want to curve upwards.
23. To give it its frisbee shape, you’ll need to gently persuade the outer edges to curve upwards. Hold the center of the frisbee with one hand and use your other hand to gently bend the outer rim upwards, creating the characteristic bowl shape of a frisbee. You can also do this by gently squeezing the sides together and then releasing them.
24. Your paper plate frisbee is ready for its maiden flight!
Common Beginner Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Don’t worry if your first few tries aren’t perfect flying machines. Origami is a journey, and learning where things can go wrong is part of the process!
* **Misaligned Folds:** This is the number one culprit! If your corners don’t meet edges exactly, or your edges aren’t parallel, your frisbee might not fly straight or could be lopsided.
* **How to avoid:** Take your time! Before making any crease, *really* look at your paper. Are the corners perfectly aligned? Are the edges touching exactly? It’s better to take an extra 10 seconds to align properly than to have to unfold and refold later. A clean, sharp crease is your best friend here.
* **Flimsy Creases:** If your folds aren’t creased firmly, the frisbee will be floppy and won’t hold its shape well, affecting its flight.
* **How to avoid:** Use your fingernail or a smooth object (like the edge of a ruler or a bone folder) to press down firmly along each fold. Don’t be afraid to give it a good rub! This creates strong, defined creases that keep your frisbee sturdy.
* **Incorrectly Tucking the Flap:** In step 20, tucking the triangular flap securely is important for keeping the frisbee together. If it’s not tucked in well, the frisbee might come apart mid-flight.
* **How to avoid:** Be gentle but firm. Lift the top layer just enough to slide the triangle underneath. You might need to slightly loosen the final fold (step 19) for a moment to get it in place, then re-crease it firmly.
Varying Your Frisbee Design: Get Creative!
Once you’ve mastered the basic paper plate frisbee, the fun really begins with variations!
* **Size:** As mentioned, using larger or smaller squares of origami paper will result in bigger or smaller frisbees. Experiment with different sizes to see how they fly! Just remember that the folding sequence remains the same.
* **Paper Pattern and Colour:** This is where you can really let your creativity shine!
* Use patterned origami paper with summery designs like flowers, fruits, or ocean themes.
* Mix and match single-sided papers to have a different colour on the inside and outside.
* Use cardstock-weight paper in bright, solid colours for a more durable, vibrant frisbee.
* Decorate plain paper yourself before folding! Use crayons, markers, or even stickers to create your own unique designs.
* **Adding Embellishments:** For a purely decorative frisbee, you could glue on glitter, sequins, or small lightweight charms after it’s folded. Just be mindful that adding weight might affect its ability to fly.
Displaying and Gifting Your Masterpieces
Your paper plate frisbees are not just for playing! They make wonderful decorative items and thoughtful gifts.
* **Display Ideas:**
* **Wall Art:** You can hang them on a wall in a child’s bedroom or a play area using a bit of double-sided tape or poster putty. Arrange them in a circle or a pattern for a striking effect.
* **Mobile:** String several frisbees together at different lengths to create a colourful mobile that can hang from the ceiling.
* **Shelf Decor:** Simply place them on shelves alongside other toys or crafts.
* **Gifting Ideas:**
* **Camp “Swag”:** These make fantastic take-home favours for a summer camp. Each child can make their own, or you can make a batch for them to decorate and keep.
* **Birthday Parties:** A “Make and Take” craft station at a birthday party featuring these frisbees is always a hit.
* **”Thinking of You” Gifts:** A handmade frisbee is a cheerful and personal gift for a friend or family member who loves the outdoors or just enjoys a bright, colourful item. You can even write a little message on the back before gifting.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time learning to make these fun paper plate frisbees! Remember to practice those folds, be creative with your paper choices, and most importantly, have fun both making and playing with your creations. Happy folding, campers!
Conclusion
Congratulations on creating your very own paper plate frisbee! We hope you had a fantastic time folding. Remember, your first attempt is all about learning and practice, so don’t worry if it’s not perfect. The most important thing is to have fun making these colourful summer crafts. Once you’ve mastered this design, why not try decorating your paper plate frisbees with even more vibrant colours? For a fun twist, try adding extra folds for a more stable flight path, or maybe even experiment with different sized paper plates to see how they fly! We encourage you to share your awesome creations with friends and family. Keep exploring, and discover even more exciting paper projects with us!