Rockets are one of the first things children ask for once they learn a few folds, and this version is nice because it actually stands up. It is not a flat silhouette: the last step flips a crease over and the paper opens into a shape with real depth, complete with fins at the bottom.

Everything before that is simple folding, so the one thing that matters is creasing firmly as you go. Sharp creases are what make the rocket look crisp instead of squashed. Once it is finished, the fun part is decorating: draw a round window, add a sticker, or fold it from colored paper so the whole rocket is bright. A few paper stars and planets around it, and you have a little space scene worth putting on a shelf.

How to fold

STEP 1. Fold the paper in half with the white side facing up.

STEP 2. Once it is folded in half, fold it in half again.

STEP 3. The paper is now a quarter of its original size.

STEP 4. Make a crease and unfold it. After unfolding, fold the bottom edge in half towards the center.

STEP 5. Once it is folded in half, turn the model over.

STEP 6. Fold the lower right corner into a triangle towards the center. Fold the left side the same way.

STEP 7. With both sides folded, fold the left and right edges in towards the center.

STEP 8. With both sides folded in, fold one side back to about one third, along the dotted line.

STEP 9. After folding one side, fold the model in half and fold it along the crease made in step 8, so that the blue circles overlap.

STEP 10. Turn the model over.

STEP 11. When you open it out, it already looks like a rocket. Fold the center crease to the other side to shape it.

STEP 12. The three-dimensional rocket is complete.

Tips for folding

None of the folds here are difficult, so take care to make every crease sharp and firm.

Draw a round window or add a sticker to the finished rocket and it will look the part even more.

If you start with the colored side facing up instead, you get a brightly colored rocket.

Make some stars and planets to go with it, and you will feel like an astronaut.