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LEAPFROG - SETUP & DIRECTIONS
Short Carnival Savers video/gif shows Froggy catapult. The frog is being catapulted onto a green lily pad.
Supplies for Leap Frog Game: 
 Stuffed Toy Frogs or Flashing Frogs (these have some weight)
1/2 inch thick Plywood and Wood Working Supplies (saw, drill)
2 x 4 wood planks (One about 18 inches long and another about 6 inches long)
Metal Slotted Angle Bracket (cut with a hacksaw to 4 inches to fit board)
Two sturdy hinges, several screws and bolts
Rubber Mallet
Table* (optional - but less bending over for adults) *Adjustable table is best
Carnival Prizes including consolation prize choice and top prizes
Make This DIY Leap Frog Game:
Click to download our Step-by-Step Leap Frog Game Instructions Sheet!
A great carnival-style game for kids - what child doesn't want to take a rubber mallet, hit something, and make a toy fly through the air?!?
The key to making this game is to ensure that there are two moving pieces to ensure the FROG goes forward instead of straight up in the air or back to the player.
The longer piece of wood (the one the player hits) acts like a See-Saw.
There are dozens of ways to construct this, but we are showing you one way to make this work!
The smaller plank of 2 x 4 wood will overlap the larger piece and be attached to the game with a sturdy hinge.
Game Setup:
Before the carnival, set up a "pond" with your fake lily pad and a pretend alligator (optional).
How to Play the Leap Frog Game:
Players are given 3 stuffed animal frogs to try to land on as many "Lily pads" as possible.
Every time a frog lands on a Lily pad it counts as a point. Every time a frog lands on the alligator, it subtracts a point. Children get a carnival prize based on how many total points they have after all their bean bag frogs have "leaped."
Additional Hints & Tips:
Note: Some schools in our area use some handmade "frog launchers" that children hit with a lightweight mallet to make the frogs leap through the air to try to land on a lily pad.
Have a handy woodworker help with a design, but always design with the safety of children first - have an adult oversee the rubber mallet or something that could be hit with such force the flying frog could hurt a young child.
The photo above was constructed for our school carnival. The kids had a ball hitting the mallet to make the frog jump to the lily pad.
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