Making and crafts
Fold a paper boat
A classic folded paper boat made from a single sheet, which you can float together in a basin of water.
Who might enjoy it: People who grew up near water, went boating or enjoyed making things for children and grandchildren. A good match for anyone who likes familiar, hands-on folding.
- Setup
- About 5 minutes
- Activity
- 10–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Mess
- Little mess
- Where
- At a table, seated-friendly
- Help
- Someone nearby
Materials: 4 everyday things, listed below
What you need
- A rectangular sheet of paper, such as printer paper or newspaper
- A flat, clear table
- A wide basin or tray of shallow water (optional)
- A towel for drying hands
No need to buy anything special
- No printer paper? A page of newspaper, a magazine cover or a sheet of wrapping paper all fold well.
- Want it to last longer on water? Color the paper all over with wax crayon first.
What to do
- Fold the sheet in half from top to bottom and run a thumbnail along the crease.
- Fold the two top corners down to the middle to make a triangle.
- Fold the bottom strip up on each side, over the triangle.
- Open the shape from the bottom and press it flat into a diamond.
- Fold the bottom point of the diamond up to the top, on each side, to make a small triangle.
- Open it again from the bottom and press it flat into a smaller diamond.
- Gently pull the two top points apart, and the boat will open out.
- Float it together in a basin of water, or set it on a shelf to keep.
It is okay to stop or change it
It is fine to stop halfway. A folded triangle is a paper hat, which is a fine result on its own, and you can finish the boat another day or not at all.
Make it easier or different
- Make it easier
- Fold the first few steps in advance and invite them to do the last pull that opens the boat out.
- More of a shared effort
- Fold two boats side by side, one step at a time, copying each other's folds.
- With children
- The older adult shows the folds while a child follows, then everyone races the boats in a basin.
- For low vision
- Use a large sheet of brightly colored paper on a dark table, and guide hands to each fold if they welcome it.
- For a group
- Each person folds or decorates a boat, and the group floats them together in a wide tray of water.
Safety
- Use only a few inches of water in a basin or tray, and stay with anyone near water.
- Mop up spills straight away so the floor does not become slippery.
- Paper edges can give small cuts; fold with the flat of the hand if skin is fragile.
These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.
Many people folded paper boats long ago, so the steps can feel familiar even after years away. It needs only one sheet of paper, and floating the boat afterward adds the sound and movement of water.