Make a Water Cycle Flextangle Paper Toy (Free Template)

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Are you on the lookout for a fun and educational activity that merges creativity with science? Our Water Cycle Flextangle is a perfect blend of science and fun rolled into a printable paper toy!

Whether you’re a parent seeking hands-on science projects for home or a teacher looking for engaging classroom science experiments, your kids will love this interactive DIY Water Cycle Model. And best of all, there’s a free printable template to make it super easy too!

A water cycle flextangle paper toy held in a pair of hands. The face shows the precipitation stage of the water cycle. Above the hands is the printable template to make the water cycle flexagon.

Explore the Wonders of the Water Cycle With a Free Printable Flexagon Toy

A flextangle or flexagon is a magical foldable paper toy. You twist it to show different images on each surface. Made from a strip of paper folded into equilateral triangles, it changes with each turn. This simple yet clever toy combines art, geometry, and fun in one amazing interactive twist!

With our free printable template, kids can easily make their own flextangle featuring the amazing water cycle! This is a wonderful paper folding educational tool to compliment your home school science activities. (Or to use in the classroom)

Our Water Cycle Flextangle is is a fantastic paper toy and teaching tool that will bring the water cycle to life!

Printable template to make a water cycle flexagon toy.

The Water Cycle in Your Hands – An Easy and Engaging Science Craft

With this free printable flextangle template kids can hold the wonders of the water cycle right in their hands!

This printable paper toy cleverly shows the four stages of the water cycle—condensation, precipitation, collection, and evaporation. It’s a wonderful interactive learning tool, visually unfolding the stages of the water cycle in a way that’s both fun and educational.

A close up of a water cycle flextangle paper toy being held in two hands.

As kids play with this fun DIY fidget toy, each twist and turn reveals a new face displaying one of the stages of the water cycle. It’s a playful STEM activity to keep kids engaged through visual and kinesthetic learning.

Zentangles – A Crafty Introduction to Origami and Geometry

This creative flextangle project is an excellent addition to any lesson on the water cycle. With each twist and turn the water cycle moves through it’s stages. It’s a clever demonstration of the water cycle’s continuous flow in a really interactive and fun format that kids will love.

Not only is this a fun art and craft project but it’s also a fantastic introduction to origami and geometry too. The printable flextangle template guides you through each fold with clear step-by-step instructions.

Two water cycle flextangle STEM toys. One showing the evaporation stage and one showing the condensation stage of the water cycle.

The assembly of the flextangle reinforces the principles of following instructions, precision, and patience. Kids carefully follow the fold lines, add a bit of glue, and create a clever moving toy that rotates through the stages of the water cycle.

Our easy-to-make Water Cycle Flextangle comes with a free printable template that invites kids to color, fold, play and learn!

It’s a wonderfully educational integration of art, craft and science that’s sure to engage young curious minds.

Two water cycle flextangle STEM toys. One showing the precipitation stage and one showing thecollection stage of the water cycle.

How To Make a Flextangle Water Cycle Toy

Are you ready for some paper folding fun? With our free printable flextangle templates, coloring materials, and a bit of creativity, your movable paper polygon will be ready for action in no time!

Grab the free template below and follow the step-by-step origami flexagon instructions to bring the water cycle to life right in your hands.

Take as much care as you can with the folding to get the best fit when you glue it all together.

You’ll be twisting and turning your first flexagon before you know it!

What a fun hands-on experience to reinforce kids’ understanding of the phases of the water cycle. Let’s fold, learn, and play with the Water Cycle Flextangle!

Flextangle Step-by-Step Assembly Instructions

Step 1 – Print the flextangle template on to cardstock (You can use paper but light cardstock makes it stronger.)

A close up of a water cycle flextangle printable template.

Step 2 – Optional: color the different faces of the water cycle diagram on the template.

Step 3 – Cut out the template along the outer edges.

Step 4 – Fold the dashed straight lines face to face, crease well and then unfold. (Use a ruler or straight edge to help you keep then lines sharp and accurate.)

Step 5 – Fold all the diagonal lines back to back. Crease well and unfold.

Step 6 – Apply adhesive to the triangular glue tabs. Carefully roll the template lengthways and bring it into a tube shape by connecting the triangular glue tabs to the inside of the opposite edge. Make sure the edges align correctly.

Step 7 – Stick the little glue tabs at the end of the template together.

Step 8 – Glue and tuck the end tabs into the tube to complete the 3D flextangle.

Now you can rotate your water cycle flextangle. Twist and turn it to explore four different faces showing the different stages of the water cycle; evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Top Tips:

– When folding, make sure the creases are sharp; this will help the flextangle function correctly.
– Fold the lines against a ruler to keep them accurate.
– If you’re having trouble with the assembly, Babble Dabble Do has a clear step-by-step video tutorial.

A square image of a water cycle flextangle paper toy held in a pair of hands. The face shows the precipitation stage of the water cycle. Above the hands is the printable template to make the water cycle flexagon.

Download Your Water Cycle Flextangle Paper Toy Free Printable Template

It’s quick and easy to get started on this fun geometry craft project. Simply subscribe to my free newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time) and as a thank you, I’ll send the water cycle paper toy template straight to your inbox.

Enjoy your educational paper craft, and have fun learning about the water cycle! Why not print out a second template for a friend? Homemade interactive learning toys are so fun!

Enjoy more art and science integration with these fun STEM Activities For Kids: