Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is a fun and creative activity that kids of all ages can enjoy. It’s a great way to develop fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Origami can also be a relaxing and meditative activity, providing a sense of calm and focus.
One of the most popular origami projects is the origami fish. This classic model is simple to fold and can be made with a variety of different types of paper. Best of all, it’s a great way to teach kids about the beauty and diversity of the underwater world.
Now that you have a basic understanding of origami and the benefits it can provide, let’s get started with the easy origami fish instructions. We’ll go through each step in detail, so even young children can follow along.
Easy origami fish instructions for kids
Follow these 8 simple steps and you’ll have your own origami fish in no time!
- Start with a square piece of paper.
- Fold in half diagonally both ways.
- Unfold and fold in half horizontally.
- Unfold and turn the paper 45 degrees.
- Fold the top two corners to the center line.
- Fold the bottom point up to the top.
- Fold the top layer down and unfold.
- Fold the sides in to form the fish’s body.
Your origami fish is now complete! You can use different colors and patterns of paper to create a variety of different looking fish.
Start with a square piece of paper.
The first step in making an origami fish is to start with a square piece of paper. This can be any type of paper, but origami paper is ideal because it is thin and easy to fold. If you don’t have origami paper, you can use a regular piece of paper and trim it into a square.
To make a square piece of paper, start with a rectangular piece of paper. Fold the top right corner down to the bottom left corner, creating a diagonal crease. Unfold the paper and then fold the top left corner down to the bottom right corner, creating another diagonal crease. The two creases should intersect in the center of the paper.
Now, fold the right edge of the paper to the center crease. Unfold the paper and then fold the left edge of the paper to the center crease. The two folds should meet in the center of the paper.
Finally, fold the top edge of the paper down to the bottom edge. Unfold the paper and then fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the top edge. The two folds should meet in the center of the paper.
You now have a square piece of paper that is ready to be folded into an origami fish.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you can follow the rest of the instructions to fold your origami fish. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold an origami fish in no time!
Fold in half diagonally both ways.
The next step is to fold the square piece of paper in half diagonally both ways. This will create two diagonal creases that intersect in the center of the paper.
- Fold from top right to bottom left.
To do this, place the square piece of paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. Bring the top right corner down to the bottom left corner, creating a diagonal crease. Make sure the crease is straight and sharp.
- Unfold the paper.
Once you have made the first diagonal crease, unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Fold from top left to bottom right.
Now, bring the top left corner down to the bottom right corner, creating a second diagonal crease. Again, make sure the crease is straight and sharp.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the second diagonal crease, unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
You should now have two diagonal creases that intersect in the center of the paper. These creases will help you to fold the paper into the origami fish.
Unfold and fold in half horizontally.
The next step is to unfold the paper and then fold it in half horizontally. This will create a horizontal crease that runs through the center of the paper.
To do this, first unfold the paper so that it is flat again. Then, bring the top edge of the paper down to the bottom edge, creating a horizontal crease. Make sure the crease is straight and sharp.
Once you have made the horizontal crease, unfold the paper again so that it is flat.
The horizontal crease will help you to fold the paper into the origami fish. It will also help to create the fish’s fins.
Now that you have folded the paper in half horizontally, you can move on to the next step, which is to unfold the paper and turn it 45 degrees.
Unfold and turn the paper 45 degrees.
The next step is to unfold the paper and then turn it 45 degrees. This will create a diamond shape.
To do this, first unfold the paper so that it is flat again. Then, hold the paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. Rotate the paper 45 degrees to the right or left. It doesn’t matter which direction you rotate it.
Once you have rotated the paper, you should see a diamond shape in front of you. The two diagonal creases that you made earlier should now be running from corner to corner of the diamond.
The 45-degree angle will help you to fold the paper into the origami fish. It will also help to create the fish’s head and tail.
Now that you have unfolded and turned the paper 45 degrees, you can move on to the next step, which is to fold the top two corners to the center line.
Fold the top two corners to the center line.
The next step is to fold the top two corners of the diamond to the center line. This will create the fish’s head and tail.
- Locate the top two corners.
Hold the diamond-shaped paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. The top two corners are the corners that are pointing upwards.
- Fold the top left corner to the center line.
Bring the top left corner down to the center line of the diamond. The center line is the vertical crease that runs through the center of the diamond.
- Fold the top right corner to the center line.
Bring the top right corner down to the center line of the diamond. Make sure that the two corners meet at the center line.
- Crease the folds.
Once you have folded both corners to the center line, crease the folds with your fingers to make them sharp.
You should now have a diamond-shaped piece of paper with two triangular flaps folded down from the top. These flaps will become the fish’s head and tail.
Fold the bottom point up to the top.
The next step is to fold the bottom point of the diamond up to the top. This will create the fish’s body.
To do this, hold the diamond-shaped paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. The bottom point is the point that is pointing downwards.
Bring the bottom point up to the top of the diamond. The bottom point should meet the two triangular flaps that you folded down in the previous step.
Crease the fold with your fingers to make it sharp. You should now have a triangular-shaped piece of paper with a flap folded down from the top. The flap will become the fish’s dorsal fin.
Now that you have folded the bottom point up to the top, you can move on to the next step, which is to fold the top layer down and unfold it.
Fold the top layer down and unfold.
The next step is to fold the top layer of the triangle down and then unfold it. This will create the fish’s pectoral fins.
To do this, hold the triangular-shaped paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. The top layer is the layer that is pointing upwards.
Bring the top layer down to the bottom of the triangle. The top layer should meet the bottom point of the triangle.
Crease the fold with your fingers to make it sharp. Then, unfold the top layer so that it is flat again.
You should now have a triangular-shaped piece of paper with two triangular flaps folded down from the top. These flaps will become the fish’s pectoral fins.
Now that you have folded the top layer down and unfolded it, you can move on to the next step, which is to fold the sides in to form the fish’s body.
Fold the sides in to form the fish’s body.
The final step is to fold the sides of the triangle in to form the fish’s body.
- Locate the side flaps.
Hold the triangular-shaped paper in front of you with the colored side facing up. The side flaps are the two triangular flaps that are pointing outwards.
- Fold the left side flap to the center line.
Bring the left side flap to the center line of the triangle. The center line is the vertical crease that runs through the center of the triangle.
- Fold the right side flap to the center line.
Bring the right side flap to the center line of the triangle. Make sure that the two flaps meet at the center line.
- Crease the folds.
Once you have folded both side flaps to the center line, crease the folds with your fingers to make them sharp.
You should now have a fish-shaped piece of paper. The two side flaps that you folded in will form the fish’s body.
FAQ
Have questions about origami? Here are some common questions and answers to help you get started:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and challenging activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Question 2: What do I need to get started with origami?
Answer: All you need is a piece of paper. You can use any type of paper, but origami paper is ideal because it is thin and easy to fold.
Question 3: What are some easy origami projects for beginners?
Answer: Some easy origami projects for beginners include the origami fish, the origami crane, and the origami tulip.
Question 4: Where can I find origami instructions?
Answer: There are many resources available for learning origami. You can find origami instructions in books, magazines, websites, and videos.
Question 5: What are some tips for folding origami?
Answer: Here are a few tips for folding origami:
- Start with a square piece of paper.
- Make your folds precise and sharp.
- Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake.
- Practice makes perfect!
Question 6: What are some benefits of doing origami?
Answer: Origami has many benefits, including:
- Developing fine motor skills
- Improving spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Encouraging creativity and imagination
Origami is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold beautiful and intricate origami creations.
Now that you know more about origami, you can check out our tips section for additional advice on how to fold origami like a pro.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you fold origami like a pro:
Tip 1: Start with a square piece of paper.
This will make it easier to fold your origami project accurately. If you don’t have a square piece of paper, you can cut a rectangular piece of paper in half diagonally to create a square.
Tip 2: Make your folds precise and sharp.
The more precise your folds are, the better your origami project will look. To make a sharp fold, use your fingernails to crease the paper along the fold line.
Tip 3: Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake.
Origami can be challenging, especially at first. If you make a mistake, don’t get discouraged. Simply unfold the paper and start over. With practice, you’ll be able to fold origami projects without making any mistakes.
Tip 4: Use different types of paper.
Origami paper is ideal for folding origami projects, but you can also use other types of paper, such as construction paper, cardstock, or even newspaper. Experiment with different types of paper to see what you like best.
Tip 5: Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Origami is a great way to express your creativity. Once you’ve mastered the basics, don’t be afraid to experiment with different folds and techniques to create your own unique origami creations.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold beautiful and intricate origami creations. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Now that you have some tips for folding origami, you can check out our conclusion section for a summary of the key points.
Conclusion
Origami is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to develop fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Origami can also be a relaxing and meditative activity, providing a sense of calm and focus.
In this article, we have provided you with easy-to-follow instructions for folding an origami fish. We have also included a FAQ section and a tips section to help you learn more about origami and improve your folding skills.
We hope that you enjoyed this article and that you will continue to explore the wonderful world of origami. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold beautiful and intricate origami creations that will impress your friends and family.
So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
