When I was in 5th grade I learned to fold paper German stars. The paper strips shown in the pictures below are approximately 24 inches x 0.5 inches. There are several sources on Etsy or you may cut your own. This morning I captured the process in photos so that you may try this at home.
German Star Instructions
1) Begin with four strips of paper. Fold each strip in half, then trim the free ends to a near point.
2) Interlock the four pieces as shown in the next photo. Notice where the folds are located. Both free ends of the red strips with their fold on the right pass over and under the orange strip and between the purple strips. The purple strips with fold on the bottom pass over and under the red strips and between the white strips, with the white fold on the left. The free ends of the white strip pass over and under the purple strips and through the orange strips with its fold at the top. The free ends of the orange strip then pass through the red strip with the red fold on the right.
3) Pull each strip to make a snug square. The folds hold each strip in place.
4) Working counterclockwise with only the top half of the strip, fold the top purple strip down, the top red strip across, the top orange strip up and the top white strip to the left.
5) Slip the the end of the white strip through the purple strip and pull snug.
6) Fold the orange strip under and to the right so that a triangle fold forms and it lines up with the white and red strips.
7) Fold the orange strip down to make the second side of a triangle.
8) Fold the orange strip so that the two orange strips are on top of each other.
9) Then pass the tail of the strip through the top white fold. Pull snug.
10) Rotate your star counterclockwise 90 degrees so that the red and white strips are facing up. Repeat steps 6-9 making the triangles with the red strip. You may wish to move the loose orange piece over so you can see the fold.
11) Rotate 90 degrees to the right so that the orange and purple strips are now facing upward. Repeat steps 6-9 to make the purple point.
12) Rotate 90 degrees to the right so that the red and white strips are facing up. Repeat steps 6-9 to make the white point.
13) You have completed four points!
14) Flip your star over. Using steps 6-9, continue making points starting with the top right strip and rotating after you finish each point. You will be working with the longer strips. Repeat until you have made four additional points. You will now have a total of eight points.
15) Starting with the white strip, loop the strip around to the right and slide through the purple fold. It will come out next to the purple point. It is important that the top of the strip remains facing up.
16) Pull snug.
17) Now take the orange piece and wrap around like you did in step 15. Tuck the strip so it comes out next to the red tip. Repeat with the red strip and finish with the purple.
18) Flip over and repeat step 15 for the remaining four points.
19) Trim the loose strips taking care not to cut the fold. If you do accidentally cut a fold, you may glue it closed.
20) Make a small hole to thread a string through if you would like to hang the star as an ornament.
Best wishes!
Kim